San Francisco pet owners are demanding answers after at least two dogs died and others were left sick while in the care of a sitter booked through the Rover app. The deaths and a wave of complaints pushed the case to local authorities during the holiday week, and owners say they are still waiting for clear explanations. Neighbors and online posters have circulated video and eyewitness accounts that have deepened concern across several Bay Area neighborhoods.
Owners Say Pets Fell Ill During Holiday Stays
Multiple owners told reporters their pets were in the sitter's care in mid-December and then became critically ill. Ti Tran and Amy Dinh say they left their dog Aku with the sitter on Friday and received a call from a clinic on Tuesday night saying Aku was unresponsive and lacking reflexes. Aku later died from complications related to dehydration.
Another owner, Scott Hallman, says he left his dog Zeb with the same sitter on Wednesday and learned mid-flight that Zeb had bloody stool and fainted. A third owner, Felipe Morales-Torres, says his dog Brady was taken to a vet after being collected on Thursday, according to ABC7.
Social Posts And A Video Circulated Online
Owners and neighborhood posters have shared a Reddit thread and other social posts that name a sitter and show a brief video that posters say depicts multiple dogs left in a parked car during a storm. The posts allege the sitter's name is Azar Karimov and say owners were encouraged by police to file reports. Those claims and the video have not been independently verified. The thread has become a hub for owners to coordinate reports and compile medical receipts and vet notes.
Rover And Police Say They Are Investigating
Rover told reporters it is heartbroken by this incident and condemns the reported mistreatment of these pets, and the company says it permanently deactivated the sitter's account after an internal review, according to ABC7. San Francisco police told the same outlet the matter is an open investigation and that no arrests have been made.
Owners say they have filed police reports and are pressing for the city's animal control and investigative units to share more details as vet records and other evidence are reviewed.
What Other Pet Owners Should Know
The episode has renewed questions about how app-based sitters are vetted and what platforms do when complaints surface. Rover's local listings state that sitters are subject to background checks and that the site offers trust and safety support for bookings. For general context, see Rover. Pet care advocates urge owners to ask for in-person meet and greets, written care plans and frequent photo updates, precautions owners in these cases said they believed they had taken.
What Happens Next
Investigations by police and animal control authorities are ongoing, and officials have not released charges or detailed findings. Affected owners say they are sharing documentation and vet bills and are weighing civil options while cooperating with law enforcement.
Anyone with information about the sitter or the animals' treatment is being asked to contact San Francisco police and local animal control channels. In the Reddit thread, owners have also shared a collaborative form that they say is helping them compile reports.
