How old was Eilyn and Ray Jimenez’s dog Aria? HGTV couple claims petsitter made up a story about their beloved pooch’s death

HGTV stars Eilyn and Ray Jimenez have slammed their pet-sitter for allegedly fabricating a story about their dog Aria's demise.

The "Divided by Design" couple took to Instagram this week to share a string of photos of their Shih Tzu with a cryptic message embossed over it:

"If you think your pet is safe with your pet sitter, think again."

Eilyn and Ray Jimenez dog, Aria, died at the age of 12, TMZ has reported. She was in the care of a professional Rover.com pet-sitter at the time, who claimed she died "in her sleep." The pair, however, thinks that she was killed by another dog.

Everything we know about Eilyn and Ray Jimenez's dog Aria's demise:

In their caption on Instagram, Eilyn and Ray Jimenez shared that they came back to their Miami home on August 29, only to be told that Aria had "passed peacefully in her sleep." The interior-design pair also shared that the sitter's friend, a veterinarian named Nicole, "confirmed" that Aria died of a heart attack.

"Every part of that story was fabricated," the pair wrote. "Cremation records show Aria's body was brought in the same day she died — by the sitter's partner. When the cremation center staff asked what happened, the partner admitted Aria had been killed by a larger dog," the couple claimed in their post. "They described visible trauma: her scalp detached, one eye bulging — injuries impossible to confuse with a peaceful passing."

Eilyn and Ray Jimenez's representative also shared documentation from the cremation service as corroboration of the claims. Their statement included a disclaimer that said it was "not intended to harass, threaten, or defame any individual or business, but to seek transparency and accountability for the events surrounding the death of our dog, Aria."

In a statement to People Magazine, Rover said in response to Eilyn and Ray Jimenez's claims:

"Our hearts go out to Mr. and Mrs. Jimenez as they mourn the loss of Aria. Many of us at Rover are pet parents ourselves, and we can only imagine the heartbreak Aria's family is going through. Upon learning of this incident, Rover's 24/7 Trust & Safety team conducted a thorough investigation into Aria's passing. The sitter involved has been deactivated from our platform without the option to appeal, meaning she cannot communicate or book new stays with pet parents via Rover. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation should they become involved. Our team has been in contact with Mrs. Jimenez to offer her support during this challenging time."

Rover's statement concluded:

"Safety is a top priority at Rover, and we are taking Aria's passing extremely seriously. In the rare event something goes wrong during a booking, Rover offers several safety features, including 24/7 support from our dedicated Trust & Safety team, access to advice from qualified veterinary professionals, and protection under the Rover Guarantee, which provides up to $25,000 in reimbursement for eligible vet claims. This incident is truly heartbreaking, but safety incidents on our platform are extremely rare. For context, over 40 million stays have been booked by pet parents in the US, with more than 98% of reviewed stays receiving five stars."

As of this writing, the pet-sitter in question has yet to issue a public statement, and her identity remains unclear.

Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more.

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