Kenya Moore -- I Did Not Fake My Dog's Death!

EXCLUSIVE

Kenya Moore insists she DID NOT fake her dog's death for ratings and is disgusted at reports that claim otherwise.

On Sunday's episode of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," Kenya revealed her pooch of seven years -- a Yorkie named Velvet -- had died after being viciously attacked by a neighbor's dog.

But the day after the episode aired, reports came out claiming the dog was alive and well and living with her friend Brandon DeShazer ... and that Moore had FAKED the death to drive up ratings.

DeShazer -- who posted a series of old photos of Velvet when the show aired that sparked the rumor -- calls the reports "vile" and "irresponsible," telling TMZ, "Anybody who has pets knows the kind of love you develop for them. To report that something like that would be staged … it’s disgusting."

We're told Moore is still heartbroken over Velvet's passing and calls the reports "evil."