39-year-old sister refuses to loan 26-year-old brother $700, she secretly pays $1,200 for her doggo's emergency surgery, brother finds out and turns the whole family against her: ‘He blames me for his job loss’

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
May 8, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Hey there, animal fam. If you're a pet owner, you know how expensive it can be. And we're not just talking about the day-to-day expenses of food, walks, toys, medicine, etc. We're talking about the oftentimes very expensive random vet visits because your doggo decided to eat five socks and now needs to get them removed, or because they randomly stopped eating for a few days and need a myriad of tests to figure out why (even though sometimes you pay $450 just to be told your pet has gas). You have a responsibility to take care of them, and they come before anything else.

We thought that even non-pet owners could understand this, and yet, we are proven wrong by the internet. In the story below, a younger brother asked his older sister to loan him $700, but she said she couldn't afford it. Her doggo needed an emergency surgery, which cost $1,200, and she found a way to pay for it. Her brother found out and has now turned the whole family against her. There's more to the story, so scroll down and read it all below!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01

    [Am I wrong] for spending money on my dog instead of giving it to my brother?

    'My dog depends on me. I'm all he has. My brother is a grown man'
    via Petegar

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I would never have thought that something like this would incite so much drama, but my whole family is arguing about it now. I wouldn't have doubted that I was in the right before my father chewed me out, but now I feel like I'm losing my mind.
    via u/the_D20_you_melted
  • 03
    In December, my brother (26M) asked me (39F) for a $700 loan. I don't make a lot, and I don't have that much to spare at any time, let alone the holidays where I need to save for gifts etc. He did need it for
    via u/the_D20_you_melted
  • 04
    something important: to get his truck fixed so he could still go to work. I get that that's a big deal, but I simply can't spare that kind of money. He ended up losing his job. :(
    via u/the_D20_you_melted

  • That's tough. We've been in a situation like this before. It was incredibly stressful. Luckily, we were able to work it out, but there was a big chance we weren't going to make it. Let's just say that we have some very kind friends!

  • 05
    Fast forward to February. My dog stopped eating and we had to take him to the emergency vet. It turned out to be a dental abscess and it cost me about $1,200 to get him treated.
    via u/the_D20_you_melted
  • 06
    You probably already know where this is going. Brother found out, and he's seething. mad. He blames me for his job loss, claiming that if I had the $1,200 for my dog and not $700 for him I'm a terrible person. I
    via u/the_D20_you_melted
  • 07
    was able to shrug that off at first, but he won't budge and now he has other people in the family haring me. Our father is on his side, and has told me that I should apologize for my priorities??? They're both saying
    via u/the_D20_you_melted
  • 08
    this is proof that I lied about not having $700 but I never claimed I didn't have access to that much money at all, I just said I could not afford to spare it.
    via u/the_D20_you_melted

  • Need another laugh? Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly serving of the silliest cat content!

  • 09
    I have tried to tell them that it was an emergency, but they just say so was my brother's problem.
    via u/the_D20_you_melted
  • 10
    My dog depends on me. I'm all he has. My brother is a grown man who has other people he can call, he just doesn't want to embarrass himself I think.
    via u/the_D20_you_melted
  • 11
    But I'm going through a lot of (unrelated) stress right now, so it's really hard to be objective about any of it at this point. I'm so tired.
    via u/the_D20_you_melted
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10501661440
    via Nes / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    No-Throat-8885 You are not obliged to lend your brother $700, even to fix his car, especially at Christmas with a myriad of other expenses. I'm assuming your father doesn't want to take
    via u/No-Throat-8885
  • 14
    responsibility for not lending it either. And no friend came forward saying he was such a great guy and here was some money. If two months later you find yourself able to find $1200 for your vet bills, then well done you. NTA.
    via u/No-Throat-8885
  • 15
    Calm_Initial Info Why did your father and other family members not step up in December to help pay the $700 your brother needed?
    via u/Calm_Initial
  • 16
    Why did you inform them of what you spent at the vet on your dog?
    via u/Calm_Initial
  • 17
    AgeRevolutionary3907 NTA, your brother is not your dependant, it's a fully grown adult, and his problems are HIS, not yours. You can help if you so with, but it's not an obligation, at all.
    via u/AgeRevolutionary3907
  • 18
    Your dog is your dependant, it literally depends on you. Your dog can't go to work and get a job that gives him dental to cure his absess.
    via u/AgeRevolutionary3907
  • 19
    The_Real_Macnabbs Responsible pet ownership is expensive, even day to day you have to feed and care for your pet. Moreover, when you take on ownership of a pet you enter into a moral bargain with your pet that you will look after them.
    via u/The_Real_Macnabbs
  • 20
    Would your brother come round every time you were feeling down and try and cheer you up? Your dog will. Will your brother make you feel better just by being there with a waggy tail in the morning or when you get
    via u/The_Real_Macnabbs
  • 21
    home? Your dog will. I am sure that if you could of afforded it, you would have given your brother the money. You made the right choice. Wishing you many years of good health, long walks and happy times on the couch (if you allow your dog on the furniture) ahead. NTA.
    via u/The_Real_Macnabbs

  • Just like a lot of the commenters are saying here, why didn't the family cough up the money to support him? Why is all the responsibility of helping him falling on the older sister? Something smells fishy here.

  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 10501662464
    via Andrey Popov / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 23
    GenxBaby2 NTA I'm guessing your dog. brings you more joy than your brother. My family has always loaned each other money as needed but everyone always pays it back. From reading this sub, I gather that it is not unusual for money loaned to relatives to not be returned.
    via GenxBaby2u/
  • 24
    fallriver1221 NTA you are not responsible for your brother's truck or his lack of ability to figure something out work wise. If everyone else is so mad why didn't THEY help him? Or why didn't he get a credit card to pay for it? Or a rental?
    via u/fallriver1221
  • 25
    You are however responsible for your dog's well being. Saving your dogs life is more important than your brothers truck. Sorry.not.sorry. he's an adult he's responsible for taking care of him. Your dog can't get himself medical care.
    via u/fallriver1221
  • 26
    Quick-Possession-245 I am so tired of people trying to spend other peoples money.....
    via u/Quick-Possession-245
  • 27
    Beyond that, your brother's truck was his responsibility, as was him getting to work. I understand that in many areas having no reliable transportation means losing a job, but surely you were not his only option?
    via u/Quick-Possession-245
  • 28
    Also - your dog IS your responsibility. It s ks that vet care costs so much money, but you couldn't leave your dog in pain. NTA
    via u/Quick-Possession-245

Check out our Instagram for more hilarious animal content!

Love our stuff? Shop for some of our pawsome merch here.

Tags

refuse family drama dogs emergency job brother doggo loan family sister animals surgery
Scroll Down For The Next Article