American Pickers' Mike Wolfe shares that his dog died in a tragic accident he feels very much responsible for

Wolfe revealed in 2022 that he adopted Francie Joe two years prior; she had been a fixture on the ‘American Pickers’ show and on Wolfe’s social media for several years

NEED TO KNOW

• Mike Wolfe shared in an Instagram post on Wednesday, July 22, that his beloved dog, Francie Joe, had died
• Wolfe said Francie Joe, whom he adopted in 2020, died in a “tragic accident” and said his “heart is shattered in a thousand pieces”
• Fans and followers expressed their condolences, calling Francie Joe’s loss heartbreaking and celebrating her joyful spirit

American Pickers star Mike Wolfe revealed that his beloved dog, Francie Joe, has died.

The 61-year-old shared in an Instagram post on Wednesday, July 22, that his beloved pup and road companion, who has traveled with him over the last several years, died after a “tragic accident.”

He shared the news alongside several photos of the canine enjoying life on the road and time with Wolfe’s family and friends.

“In a tragic accident, one I feel very much responsible for, I lost my Francie Joe,” Wolfe wrote, though he did not share any additional details of the incident. “My heart is shattered in a thousand pieces. I never got to say goodbye or comfort her when she needed me most.” 

“She listened to me when she knew I was wrong,” he continued. “She had patience for me when I didn’t deserve it. She didn’t just love me for who I was in the moment… She could see all of my pain and joy from my past to my present.”

The TV star wrote that Francie Joe “came into my life when I was struggling,” and used the social media post as an opportunity to share several beautiful memories he had with Francie Joe, including all the time they “traveled and explored this beautiful country of ours together.” He added that the canine’s “big brown eyes” spread “so much joy” to himself and those around him.

“She was family, she was everything I ever dreamed of in a dog. And now she’s gone, pulled from this world too soon. For days now I’ve tried to make sense of it all. I’ve realized that I can’t; all I can do is remember what she taught me and live my life the way she would be proud of me,” he said, concluding his post.

Francie Joe has been a fixture on American Pickers and on Wolfe’s social media page for several years. Wolfe has shared several posts of his adventures on the road with the dog, including trying out different foods in different cities.

In an April 2022 Instagram post filled with photos of the canine companion, Wolfe called Francie Joe his “best friend.”

“Road dog best friend. She came into my life two years ago, and she’s been a gift from above. Happy National Pet Day, Francie 🐺❤️,” he captioned the post.

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Several fans mourned the loss of Francie Joe alongside Wolfe on Instagram. One commenter wrote in response to the news of the canine’s death, “So sorry, worst pain there is… Cherish all those beautiful memories! Until we meet our angels again.”

Another said, “I hate to hear this, Mike. Dogs are the best. RIP Francie Joe.”

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