Schaumburg dog, mail carrier best friend inspire book, $20K donation to animal rescue

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (WLS) -- A north suburban Chihuahua named Frannie and her best friend, Dan the mailman, have inspired a best-selling book and a big donation to a local animal nonprofit.

Dan Larsen is a mail carrier in Schaumburg. And every day, Frannie would wait for her favorite visitor to deliver the mail.

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Videos of their special bond went viral. It was even turned into a best-selling book.

Frannie and Gracie Beane also have a large presence on social media.

Their followers have watched over the years as they've bonded with Larsen.

"I posted on social media, and people were responding with, 'OMG, I haven't smiled in two years. Thank you for that; I needed that,'" owner Lisa Laskey said.

It started in 2021, when Laskey and her husband adopted Frannie.

"I think people know that dogs and mailmen sometimes don't get along much, but this was a little bit different. She was showing me love every day," Larsen said.

"She went bonkers like he was her long-lost owner, like she kissed him and clawing at him. It was just the sweetest thing," Laskey said.

Their social media posts have received hundreds of millions of views around the world. Followers call themselves Frannie nation.

Now, Frannie's owner is making a $20,000 donation to the local animal nonprofit Almost Home Foundation in honor of four years of Frannie nation and Gracie Beane's first birthday.

"It's unbelievable," said Kelly Kane with Almost Home. "This is just pure love. It's happiness and now the homeless animals are benefitting from it."

Larsen says he's just happy to be part of a feel-good story that helps animals.

Laskey says pretty soon she'll start planning how to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Frannie nation.