Woman slammed for ‘freeze-drying’ her lifeless canine says she ‘can correctly grieve now’

A content creator says she paid about £2,600 to freeze-dry her “soul dog” Baby after he died from a tumour, insisting it helped her grieve despite fierce online backlash

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A content creator has revealed how she freeze-dried her pet dog after its death – despite growing backlash online over the controversial practice.

Karagan chose the unusual preservation method after her canine “Baby” died from a tumour. She described the decision as deeply personal and comforting. The music and engineering student, who claims she paid £2,600 for the process, said: “I had no hesitation”

She continued: “Baby is my soul dog I wanted him with me somewhere somewhat. I loved him so much. I hated how expensive it was, I feel like they are profiting off my grief. But it was worth it because it was for Baby his body is one-of-a-kind.”

Karagan added: “It was weird seeing him in a different form. I cried at first but over time it helps you overcome your grief.

“I feel like I can properly grieve because he wasn’t just ripped from me. It’s comforting knowing he’s always with me.”

Karagan, based in Los Angeles, adopted Baby in 2018 after fostering him, recalling how the pair formed an instant bond. The dog later developed a rapidly growing tumour, leaving her to make the difficult decision to put him down.

She said: “I could see him struggle doing little things like walking. I cried all the time because I didn’t want to let him go.”

Freeze-drying is a process that preserves the body by removing moisture while maintaining its physical form. Karagan paid in for the pricey procedure in instalments.

Her decision has sparked intense debate online, with many social media users criticising the move. A person said: “This is grief avoidance.

“The only way to come out the other side of grief is to go through it.” Another person added: “If we were related I would call them people and tell them you’re having an episode.”

Someone else argued: “I am horrified. I loved my dog.

“But I would never desecrate her remains for my selfishness. I took her paw prints and made a painting I feel close to her when I look at it.

Others questioned the emotional impact of keeping a preserved pet. One person said: “I’m not here to judge, but when you are looking at him do you ever expect him to move as if he is still alive?

“I wouldn’t be able to do that it would hurt too much.” Someone else said: “Damn there’s no way I could look at my dogs eyes knowing she’s not really there.

“I think that would hurt even more.” Others defended the idea.

One person said: “To each their own! I’m keeping my boys skull when the time comes.”

Karagan, who has been accused of everything from “witchcraft” to “demon” behaviour in the past, expected mixed reactions for her decison.

The case follows a similar controversy involving influencer Chloe Chung, who also faced backlash after revealing she had freeze-dried her dog MisTricks.

Chung said she changed her mind about cremation because she “struggled with the thought that I would never see her beautiful face again”. Karagan echoed that sentiment, insisting the decision is about honouring her pet rather than holding on.

She added: “Ashes don’t matter. A picture could never compare. Baby is going to go with me when I pass. We are a team.”

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