To Lose
A Dog
A Love Story. A Tragedy. A Manual for Surviving the Unsurvivable.
To Lose
A Dog
A Love Story. A Tragedy. A Manual for Surviving the Unsurvivable.
On Valentine’s Day 2020, an English Bulldog entered Isaac’s life and rewrote the rules of love. For 1,855 days, they built something rare—a bond so deep it transcended species, so public it healed millions, so profound it changed everything. Then lightning struck.
Order for yourself, gift to someone grieving, or share with anyone getting a dog—this book teaches what to expect and how to love completely.
More Than a Memoir—
A Manual Hidden Inside a Love Story
14 chapters. Five years of joy, one day of tragedy, and a lifetime of lessons about what it means to love a dog completely.
The Story, Told With Devastating Honesty
From Franki's miraculous Valentine's Day birth to the phone call that shattered everything. Morning massage rituals, meal countdown ceremonies, three pneumonia episodes, Instagram fame, Freddi's arrival, and March 28, 2025. Nothing is sugarcoated.
Science That Validates Your Pain
The oxytocin-gaze loop. Neural coupling. Thirty thousand years of co-evolution. The neuroscience and biology that prove your bond was as real as any human connection—and why pet loss grief can hurt more than losing a person.
A Survival Manual Inside a Memoir
Each chapter includes practical help: choosing the right dog, building unbreakable bonds, vetting pet care providers, navigating end-of-life decisions, surviving acute grief, and learning to love again without guilt.
Permission to Grieve Fully
Why society dismisses pet loss (and why that's wrong). The rock-in-your-pocket metaphor. Physical symptoms, guilt processing, and the truth that healing doesn't mean forgetting. Chapter 9 holds space for grief that has no timeline.
Meet Franki
The English Bulldog behind the story. See why 1.5M followers fell in love with his signature tongue-out smile.
Follow the journey:
From Mayor of Domino Park to internet sensation, Franki's story touched millions.
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14 Chapters. 1,855 Days.
One Irreplaceable Bond.
A story told in four acts—from the first meeting at an airport to the permanent transformation that follows loss.
The Love
How a closed-off founder met an English Bulldog at LaGuardia Airport during lockdown and learned what it means to be present. Morning massages, Instagram fame, three pneumonia episodes, and the day Franki finally accepted his son.
The Loss & The Grief
The phone call that shattered a world. What the first 30 days look like when grief is compounded by guilt, distance, and preventability. Why “it’s just a dog” is scientifically wrong—the neuroscience of attachment and 15,000 years of co-evolution.
The Healing
What remains after loss. Surviving the “firsts”—birthdays, holidays, seeing another bulldog. Freddi’s own grief journey and learning to love him differently. The architecture of moving forward while carrying what you’ve lost.
The Legacy
Creating meaning from tragedy. The plans to honor Franki’s memory through education, accountability, and community. A letter to Franki. A message for those with living dogs: be present now. For those grieving: you will survive this.
Approximately 75,000 words—substantial enough to truly help, focused enough to read when you're drowning in grief.
This Book Isn't For Everyone
Not For You If...
- You think "it's just a dog" and this book will make you uncomfortable
- You want a sugarcoated pet loss story—look elsewhere
- You're not ready to ugly-cry in public—maybe read this at home
- You believe pets are "replaceable"
This Book Is For You If...
- You've ever loved a dog so much that losing them broke you completely
- You need someone to say "your grief is legitimate" and mean it
- You're drowning in fresh grief or carrying the ache years later
- Your bond with your dog feels deeper than "owner and pet"
What makes this different: Unapologetically honest about the highest highs and lowest lows. Science-backed validation. Practical help embedded in real story. No recap bloat. No melodrama. Just the truth about what it means to love a dog completely—and what happens when that connection is severed too soon.
What Advance Readers Are Saying
From readers who've walked this difficult path
“I ugly-cried through Chapter 8, then immediately texted the link to my sister who lost her dog last year. This book doesn't just tell Isaac's story—it holds space for every dog parent's grief.”
Sarah Mitchell
Early Reader, Lost her rescue mix Bailey
“The science chapter changed everything for me. Finally understanding WHY losing my dog felt like losing a limb—the oxytocin loop, the neural coupling—gave me permission to grieve fully. This book validates what society dismisses.”
Michael Chen
Lost his golden retriever Luna
“I've followed Franki since the viral midnight refusal video. This book captures not just his fame, but the profound private moments—the morning massages, the meal countdowns, the way they became one consciousness.”
David Park
Dog parent and @frankiandfreddi follower
“Chapter 9 gave me language for grief I thought I was experiencing alone. The rock-in-your-pocket metaphor, the physical symptoms, the guilt—Isaac writes with such clarity about surviving the unsurvivable.”
Emma Rodriguez
Pet loss support advocate
In Memory of Franki
February 14, 2020 – March 28, 2025
Born on Valentine's Day as the only puppy in his litter—destined for something extraordinary
The English Bulldog who touched 1.5 million hearts, became the Mayor of Domino Park, and taught us that the most profound love stories don't always happen between humans
Forever tongue out, forever loved
As Featured In
Franki's story earned features in major media outlets from Newsweek to The Mirror, touching hearts worldwide
Hello Bark
English Bulldog Pros and Cons
Featured expert advice on Franki's daily exercise needs and caring for English Bulldogs
PetHelpful
Bulldog Misses Daycare
Franki's heartwarming viral story about missing doggie daycare so much his face melted hearts everywhere
Newsweek
Bulldog Obsessed with Watching Sunsets Melts Hearts
Viral TikTok with 230,000+ views of Franki watching Brooklyn sunsets sparked conversation about canine consciousness
The Mirror
Sweet Dog Obsessed with Watching Sunsets 'Like Simba in The Lion King'
International coverage of Franki's adorable sunset-watching obsession at the Brooklyn skyline
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Pre-order now at $22 (save $6) · Ships June 2026