'My best friend for 15 years': Christina Ricci mourns the loss of her beloved dog Karen Carpenter

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Christina Ricci is devastated after she lost one of her beloved family members. The Golden Globes Award winner took to her Instagram Story on Sunday, February 18, to reveal her dog Karen Carpenter had sadly died.

"My beautiful little best friend Karen Carpenter died on Friday. She was a lady and the best little soul I've ever known," Ricci wrote, as per People. "My best friend for 15 years. So many of you knew her and loved her."

Christina Ricci said her pet Karen Carpenter hated other dogs 

"Apparently all dogs go to heaven. She hated other dogs so I hope she's in the humans-only area. She loved people," the 44-year-old actress added alongside a heart emoji. "She was so kind." Ricci also posted a photo of the pup with her son Freddie, now nine. "She was Fred's first best friend," she wrote.

Christina Ricci is also a mother to two other dogs 

The 'Wednesday' star is also a dog mother to Logan and Patrick. While speaking to the outlet in 2022, Ricci expressed her fondness for pets, recalling how she grew up surrounded by animals. "I'm an equal-opportunity animal lover. I really love cats as much as I love dogs," Ricci said at the time. She said she'd had pets her "whole life," having grown up "with three dogs and a cat."

Karen Carpenter was with Christina Ricci since she was 29 years old 

Speaking of her beloved Karen, Ricci added, "Karen has been with me since I was about 29 years old. And I always say she's my first baby. And as she got older, I really wanted to make sure that not only did she live as long as possible, but that she lives comfortably and happily, and without the ailments that older dogs suffer from." 

Besides bonding with Ricci's son Freddie, she also formed a special relationship with her daughter Cleo, two. "She always comes over and sits by the baby and lets the baby pet her," Ricci previously told People, adding "And Freddie used to get in Karen's dog bed with her."

Widower dies after running back inside burning Michigan home to save his rescue dog

Meaww previously reported that an 81-year-old widower tragically lost his life on Saturday, January 20, after he ran back inside his burning Michigan home to try to save his beloved rescue dog, Lexi. According to ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV and The Macomb Daily, John Balkevitch and his dog Lexi died after the fire in Roseville broke out in the morning. 

Neighbor Jackie Chaviz told The Macomb Daily that there was a large explosion that caused other residents to leave their homes. The house filled with smoke within seconds before bursting into flames. "We heard that sound and John ran outside," she told the paper, adding "He must have realized his dog was still in the house, so he went back into get the dog. He didn’t come back out.”

John's neighbor Jeremy Skobler told WXYZ-TV that he and others tried to save the man. Fox affiliate WJBK-TV and The Macomb Daily reported that a DoorDash delivery driver was among the good Samaritans. However, a rescue proved impossible. "I couldn’t even get into the house, it was so smoke-filled," Skobler told WXYZ-TV.