Dog The Bounty Hunter is ENGAGED to girlfriend Francie Frane and wants biggest wedding ever – open to all his fans
DOG The Bounty Hunter is engaged to girlfriend Francie France, The Sun can reveal.
In an exclusive interview, the couple, who began dating earlier this year, revealed how Dog, 67, got down on one knee and popped the question in a romantic candlelit proposal at their home in Colorado.
The pair have moved in with each other and have been spending quarantine living at Dog's house - and say they can't wait to bring all their family together for their big day.
And the reality star says he's so happy he wants to have the "biggest wedding there's ever been" open to all his fans, in what he says will be "one hell of a party."
Describing the romantic proposal, Francie, 51, said: "I wasn't expecting it at all.
"I think I had gone to pick up some food and then when I came back he had all the lights turned down with just a few lights on and a bunch of candles lit.
"So when I came in I was like, 'Wow, this is awesome'. Then he said, 'Come in, sit down because I need to talk to you'.
"So I put all the food in the kitchen and I came in and he said, 'I know that God brought you into my life and I don't want to spend one moment of it without you'."
Tearing up as she recalled the special moment, Francie added: "And he got down on one knee and he opened the ring box and he said, 'Will you marry me and spend the rest of our lives together?'
"Who can say no to that? It was wonderful."
The couple are planning to wait until after lockdown to get married - and want all their family - including Dog's 12 children, Francie's two sons and their grandchildren to all share in their day.
And Dog has plans to open it up even wider than family.
"I've had so many fans ask 'When you marry Francie, are you going to let your fans come?
"So we're word negotiating right now because I want to open it up.
"I would love to have the biggest wedding there's ever been.
"I'm sorry but that's just me. I hope I can talk Francie into it and open it to my fans, the 'Dog Pound,' to everybody.
"It would be one hell of a party and it's just what people need right now.
"I told Francie, people they need a little love after being locked down. I love the idea of that."
Dog and Francie's newfound happiness comes after a difficult few years for them in which they both lost their long-term spouses to cancer.
Beth Chapman - Dog's late wife - lost her battle with throat cancer last June - and Francie's former spouse passed away six months prior to that.
They got together after Dog left a voicemail for Francie's late husband Bob asking him to do some work on his property, without knowing he had passed away.
Francie called Dog back to explain what happened to Bob and they became friends, then started dating.
While they say most people have been extremely supportive of their relationship, they accept there will always be those who criticize them.
"You know we go to Walgreens, Walmart, Starbucks and every single fan has been like 'My God you guys look good together' or 'Boy Dog you should keep with her, with her strength and her Christianity, she will stand by you.'
"Or they tell Francie 'That guy right there is loyal.'
"So we have trusted that - and everyone is happy for us.
"And you know there's always going to be haters, and I probably arrested half of them."
Francie added: "I think too that there's always going to be people who say we did this wrong or we did that wrong or we've moved on too quickly or too fast.
"But the truth is that both of us have spent three years walking alongside our spouses sick and we know that God brought us together and that's why we don't believe that it's too soon.
"And because we both have done our share of screaming and crying and asking why.
"Then for us to come together the way that we did and build this friendship because of what we've been through, that turned into a love story.
"We don't believe that it's too soon."
Dog's happy news came after:
- Dog found love and supportive family say 'Beth would approve'
- Dog said new girlfriend is a 'miracle'
- Who is Dog's new fiancée Francie Frane?
Dog previously told The Sun that while "there'll never be another Mrs Dog" referring to Beth, he wanted Francie to become "the last Mrs Chapman."
The bounty hunter has been married five times before and has 12 children.
Most read in entertainment
Dog's family have given their full support to the relationship.
Earlier this week daughter Lyssa told The Sun how her dad deserves to be happy and that Francie is an "amazing woman".
Bonnie Chapman also jumped to her dad's defence, posting on Instagram "Everyone who's judging my father should sure pray that they never have to lose their loved one and get judged for trying to fill the void.
"Your opinion is invalid. My mother would've wanted him to be happy."