She Took in Her Dying Aunt’s Dog and Ended Up With an Inheritance. Now Her Brother Is Calling Her a ‘Mooch’

After stepping in to care for her late aunt’s elderly dog, a 30-year-old woman unexpectedly inherited the remainder of her aunt’s estate — and now her brother is accusing her of taking what was rightfully his.

In a detailed Reddit post, the woman explained that her Aunt “Bea,” who had lost her only son years ago, devoted her love and attention to Troy — an aging dog she treated like family. When Bea was hospitalized in early 2024 due to knee complications that escalated into serious health issues, she entrusted Troy’s care to her nephew John.

For the first few months, John did all the caretaking. But after moving in with his boyfriend — who couldn’t allow pets — Troy was left in the care of the woman. From that point on, she says, she managed nearly all of Troy’s daily needs.

“I really did try to give him the best rest of his life without his mom,” she wrote, adding that Troy passed away nearly a year later. She honored Bea’s wishes by creating a garden memorial and burying Troy’s ashes alongside her.

What she didn’t expect was what came next.

Shortly after Troy’s passing, the woman was contacted by an attorney and told that Bea had left her entire estate to her. The inheritance wasn’t large — Bea had worked in clerical roles and lived in an expensive assisted living facility — but whatever remained, she left to the woman who cared for her dog.

“I literally had no clue,” she said, noting she hadn’t been thinking about Bea’s estate at all.

Her brother, however, had been. According to the woman, Aunt Bea had told John during a hospital visit that everything would go to whoever took care of Troy. At that time, that person was John — until he moved out.

When he found out about the inheritance, John reportedly lashed out, calling her a “mooch,” spreading false claims about her caregiving, and cutting off contact. “We haven’t spoken in over a month,” she shared. “He’s still smearing my name to anyone who will listen.”

The woman said she’s using the money to help her family gain some financial stability. But despite her belief that she did the right thing, the situation has deeply strained her relationship with her brother.

Commenters on her post were split. Some said the inheritance should be shared, given John’s early involvement. Others pointed out that she was the one who followed through on Bea’s final request.

“Sounds like you fulfilled your aunt’s wishes and John didn’t,” one person wrote.

Despite the family tension, she stands by her decision — convinced that, in caring for Troy to the end, she honored both her aunt’s love and legacy.