An unlikely duo: Frannie the Chihuahua makes 500th run to greet mail carrier in Hoffman Estates

Historically, the relationship between mail carrier and canine has been complicated.

For generations, the dog chasing the mail carrier has been a primetime punchline. But this weekend, an unlikely bond is being celebrated in the northwest suburbs.

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Frannie Joy and Dan Larsen are the duo you didn't know you needed.

In Hoffman Estates, Frannie waits as patiently as a Chihuahua can to greet Postman Dan.

"She runs straight to my truck. So, when she gets to the truck, I open up the door. I get out. I pick her up, and all she wants to do is give me kisses," Dan said.

It has been like this, Dan said, since day one, nearly three years ago. But this weekend marked the 500th time Frannie has sprinted into his arms.

"Every day, people would just say, 'This is so weird. Dog, postman. This would never happen. My dog would be biting my postman's head off,'" said Lisa Laskey, Frannie's dog mom.

Lisa has been counting each day since October 8th, 2021, posting short videos of the duo's daily routine all along the way, racking up followers by the thousands.

"This is my way of just showing the world what love looks like in a very unconventional way," Lisa said.

With support for their relationship growing online, Lisa put the call out for "Frannie Nation" to send Christmas cards to Dan to show him what their love meant to total strangers.

"These were people in cancer clinics, and they were sitting in chairs, like, in groups, watching Frannie and Dan videos while they were getting their chemotherapy. There are women who lost spouses, lost children," Lisa said.

"That's when I really realized that, I think, people were really enjoying these videos more than I ever thought," Lisa said.

The Hoffman Estates mayor even acknowledged Fran and Dan's milestone, with a day named in their honor and the key to the village.

"Definitely reaffirms that people are enjoying this and love it," Dan said. "It makes me feel good, for sure."

Lisa has even turned Fran and Dan's story into a children's book - three books, actually - with another on the way. She says she plans to give a portion of the proceeds to Schaumburg's Almost Home Foundation.