Furry student, 20, with ‘connection’ to animals dons Staffordshire bull terrier costume every day to express themselves

A non-binary South Yorkshire student who identifies as a furry – an animal-like character with its own personality, name and costume – as they always had a “stronger, psychological connection” with animals than humans has said they dress up as a dog daily as it is “the best way to express (themselves)”.

Karolina Pedziwilk, 20, an art student at Barnsley College, originally from Poland, realised they wanted to become a fully-fledged furry after seeing an advert for furry costumes on their mum’s computer at age eight.

Karolina has a fursona – a furry persona – called Maki and is a male, despite Karolina identifying as non-binary, and in 2022, after years of role-playing their fursona to other furries online, finally handmade a fursuit over a period of three months to bring their alter ego to life.

Karolina is unashamed of their fursona and at college they wear a badge to help other potential furries identify them in the hope that more “furries come out of their shell”.

Despite perceptions, Karolina said they do not see the furry phenomenon as sexual and their friends and family “support (them) as long as (they) don’t embarrass them” – adding that their fursona does not impact their relationship with their non-furry fiance, Rowland Katromczay, 36, “in the slightest”.

“I have never hidden my inner furry –  I see it as the best way to express myself,” Karolina said.

“When one is a furry, they most likely feel like they can relate to animals more easily than humans.”

Since around age six, Karolina has believed they have a “stronger, psychological connection” with animals compared with humans.

Throughout Karolina’s childhood, they drew hundreds of animal-like characters, giving them personalities and names, and after seeing an advert for furry costumes, at age eight, they realised they wanted to become a furry.

“When I saw it, I was like, ‘Oh, I really want to do that’, and then I found out how much they cost, I thought I’d wait to make my own.

“I told my mum about it, and she just said, ‘Do it if that’s what you want to do’.”

As Karolina got older, they began joining furry community groups online, on websites such as DeviantArt and Facebook, and messaged fellow furries roleplaying as their furry character.

Over time, Karolina’s interest in the furry fandom grew and grew, and in May 2022, they finally decided to make their furry creation come to life by making a fursuit, which took them around three months.

They said: “I had a vision of what I wanted my fursuit to look like, so once I had enough money for some materials, I scraped it together, beginning with making the base and ending with making its little teeth.”

Karolina, who identifies as non-binary, decided to make their furry, Maki, a male, and he is based on a Staffordshire bull terrier, with influences from Five Nights At Freddy’s, a survival horror video game.

“And at the time, my brother had a Staffy – it’s small, very quiet but can be aggressive, which I relate to a lot.

“The original design was based on the characters in the Five Nights At Freddy’s game series, therefore one of his eyes remains black and white to resemble a robot eye which, in my opinion, makes him special.

“He is also the main star of my TikTok.”

They said: “I have been posting some dances; my old account was taken down, so I’ve been rebuilding it.

“I’m trying to keep it positive and share a bit of awareness for ADHD, which I have.

“There’s a great community of furries on there too.”

They said: “I have only been able to go and crash some Comic Cons in the UK.

“The atmosphere is always mixed when a furry arrives at such a convention, but every time it was amazing to spot other furries and laugh together.”

Karolina is very open about their furry identity, even at college, they explained: “I carry my fursonas badge next to my college card so that way other furries in my college can identify me as one of their own and maybe even help some furries come out of their shell more.

“My family loves what I do even though they don’t quite know how or when I started.”

Karolina, who does not see being part of the furry fandom as sexual, has said their fursona has not impacted their romantic relationships as they have recently got engaged to a non-furry, Rowland Katromczay, 36.

They said: “It doesn’t affect our relationship in the slightest.

“They support what I do and love to see me making progress in my art.”

Karolina said to anyone considering joining the furry fandom: “I would say if you see furries and you like them and wonder how it feels to express yourself in that way, you should not wait and join the community.

“Also, for parents of children who want to be a furry, I reckon keep an eye on the content they consume online from the furry community as not safe for work content tends to be popular.”