A woman recently experienced the unthinkable. She left her dog with a Rover sitter, only to discover that her pet passed away in her absence.
While this is a tragedy, there are many perfectly innocent reasons why an animal may suddenly leave this Earth.
However, when TikTok user Eilyn Jimenez (@eilynjimenez__) returned from her trip to discover that her precious dog had died while she was on vacation, she suspected that something was amiss. She decided to investigate—and she couldn’t believe what she found.
What Happened To This Woman’s Dog After She Left It With A Rover Sitter?
According to a TikTok slideshow posted by Jimenez, she went out of town and left the care of her 12-year-old Shih Tzu, Aria, to a woman named Barbara Paz, whom she found via the app Rover.
Jimenez said that while things appeared to be going well at first, with Paz sending photos and videos of the dogs, events took a turn once Jimenez returned home.
“When we returned home two days later, the sitter came to our door crying, saying Aria ‘passed peacefully in her sleep,’” Jimenez wrote in the caption of a TikTok slideshow about the incident. “She told us a ‘vet friend named Nicole’ had confirmed it and even texted us under that name, claiming Aria had died from a heart attack.”
However, Jimenez claimed that she soon learned that “every part of that story was fabricated.”
What Did This Rover Sitter Do To This Dog?
According to Jimenez, she obtained documents showing that the dog was cremated not by Paz or a “vet friend named Nicole,” but by Paz’s partner, a man named Daniel Souza.
“When the cremation center staff asked what happened, the partner admitted Aria had been killed by a larger dog,” Jimenez wrote. “They described visible trauma: her scalp detached, one eye bulging — injuries impossible to confuse with a peaceful passing.”
To make matters worse, Jimenez alleged that the sitter was not even in Miami at the time of the dog’s passing. Instead, she said that Paz was competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament in Las Vegas. While she was gone, Jimenez said she believes her partner brought Aria to an area where she was exposed to larger dogs that ended up attacking and killing her.
“They cremated Aria without our consent—erasing evidence and concealing what happened,” she said.
Jimenez acknowledged that “mistakes can happen.” That said, she stated that Paz’s alleged efforts to conceal what happened are an attempt to “avoid accountability.”
What Happened Next?
WPLG Local 10 found Paz and confronted her. Paz refused to speak to the outlet.
According to the Independent, Rover offered Jimenez an apology and $1,000. Jimenez did not accept the money.
Rover later provided the Independent with a statement. It said, “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. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation should they become involved.”
Has This Happened Before?
There are numerous reports of dogs dying while under the care of sitters hired off of the Rover platform.
In July 2024, a pet sitter hired from Rover brought about the deaths of three dogs and the hospitalization of several others due to heat issues.
A Facebook group titled “My Dog was killed by my Rover Sitter” currently has over 1,300 members.
Other Rover users have reported minor issues that still are cause for concern. For example, one woman hired a sitter from the site, only to discover that the sitter tried to feed her dog Traeger Grilling Pellets instead of food.
Commenters Are Shocked
In the comments section, users encouraged Jimenez to pursue Paz to the fullest extent of the law.
“Please please press charges. This is so sick. I’m so sorry,” wrote a user.
“Cremating someone else’s dog without their consent has to be illegal,” added another. “I am so sorry for your loss.”
Others simply spoke out against Rover.
“My puppy died with a rover sitter in May,” said a commenter. “He was only 5 months old.”
“Rover really needs to be more strict about who they approve. As a sitter myself, I would have been absolutely DESTROYED if a clients dog were attacked,” detailed a second. “Those are MY babies while they’re here. I’m so sorry.”
BroBible reached out to Jimenez via TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook direct message. We also reached out to Rover via email.