Man Pulls Out of Family Vacation and Asks for $7,000 Refund After Dog's Pricey Vet Bill and Death — But His Brother Refuses

A man is turning to the Reddit community for advice after a heated dispute with his brother over a family vacation to Maui.

The trip, planned for May 2025, involves the man’s family, his brother’s family and their parents. It is a costly endeavor, with a pricey Vrbo rental split three ways and a fishing excursion booked as a gift for their father.

“Its easily the most expensive trip any of us have been on ... final payment occurred last month, and at that point could not be canceled,” the man writes in his post.

All parties have reimbursed the man for their shares of the expenses. However, things recently got complicated when the man’s brother faced a personal crisis after his 6-year-old dog suffered a severe health issue and died.

The brother had spent extensively to try and save the dog, resulting in a significant vet bill. He recently informed the poster that he and his family would be withdrawing from the trip and requested a refund of the money he had paid.

Related: Women Ditch Friend on International Vacation After She Has Visa Issues. Then She Asks Them for a Refund

This request led to a disagreement between the brothers, with the man refusing to reimburse the nearly $7,000.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The man explains his stance, stating, “They paid a share of the Vrbo. The fishing trip was a gift for our dad. He is coming at me because he paid me money.” He emphasizes that the trip arrangements cannot be altered at this point, and he is unwilling to absorb an additional $7,000 expense on his own.

Additionally, he mentions his brother’s previous history using Vrbo and the company's tough reimbursement policy. “They helped pick the Vrbo. Not the first time they've used Vrbo either. They know the closer to the trip the less likely it is to be refundable,” he shares.

Related: Woman Defends Rant About Vacation Plans After She Demands Refund Following Hurricane Helene Devastation

When the brother pleaded for a refund, the man “told him absolutely not. He called me an a—— and threatened small claims court,” the poster writes. The situation has become a sensitive topic, with the brother mentioning his financial constraints, emotional distress over the loss of his dog and a desire to avoid the poster to family.

The man reflects on his decision, acknowledging that his brother is in a tough spot emotionally and financially. He even admits, “I’m putting him in a tougher financial hole since he owes a large vet bill.”

However, he believes that the non-refundable nature of the trip expenses means he cannot be expected to cover his brother’s withdrawal. He concludes, “It’s been pretty toxic the last few days… he doesn’t want to be around me.” Now, the man is wondering if his actions are justifiable.

"These were nonrefundable costs, and that is how life works. I assume any trip I back out of, I am not getting a refund," writes one commenter. However, they caveat, "If there are ways to help your brother, you should all consider doing so, but no, he can't get money for the nonrefundable stuff back."

Adds another, "I've been in that dog situation. There exist companies that'll do payment plans for massive vet bills... It's an emotional time for your brother, hopefully he cools off eventually. Though I admit that threatening court for something that he consented to happen is kind of funny."

Read the original article on People