Dog the Bounty Hunter Explains Why He’s Not Afraid to Die Anymore

As Duane “Dog” Chapman gears up for the series premiere of his new show, “Dog’s Most Wanted,” he says his mindset has changed. He’s not worried about the possibility of getting killed anymore since his wife Beth died in June.

“I’m not afraid to die anymore,” he said in a recent interview.

Now, he says, whenever he’s preparing to bust down a door he thinks, “Here I come, Bethy.”

(RELATED: Emotional Trailer for ‘Dog’s Most Wanted’ Is Released With Inspiring Words From Beth)

Meeting in Heaven.

Chapman also says he thinks of Beth sitting in a garden in heaven. When she sees him arrive someday, he imagines she’ll say, “Big Daddy, it took you a long time.”

“I told my camera crew after she [passed away], ‘If something happens to me, you’d better get that shot,'” he admitted. “They’re like, ‘Boss, we will.'”

“I’m not afraid to die now,” he continued, “because I know where I’m going and who I’ll get to see again.”

And Dog says he feels Beth’s presence with him whenever he’s hunting down a bad guy.

Recently, in an unfamiliar neighborhood, Dog said “I stopped for a second as I was running and said, ‘Beth, please. Where is he?’ All of a sudden, I heard [fellow hunter] David and [Chapman’s son] Leland yell, ‘We’re on him again, boss.’ I told David, ‘Oh my God, she’s watching.’ David said, ‘We have an angelic drone.’ I feel her all the time.”

Beth’s final hours

Beth died on June 26 at the age of 51. She was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017 and given a 50/50 chance of survival.

In an interview, Dog and Beth’s 20-year-old daughter, Bonnie, said Beth’s last moments of consciousness before she passed away have haunted Dog.

(RELATED: Beth Chapman’s Daughter Forced to Ward Off ‘Fans’ Requesting Her Ashes!)

“She quite literally choked on her cancer,” Bonnie revealed to a cancer support channel.

“My mom was naked in the bathroom and told my dad to look at her,” she recounted. “And he goes, ‘I am looking at you.’ And she goes, ‘No, look at me.’ And then she was standing there and she started gasping, and my sister came into the room and they called 911 immediately. And that was the last moment that we really saw her completely conscious.”

Seeing the love of his life die in such a way likely makes a quick and violent death seem preferable to Dog.

Injured on the job.

Hopefully, Dog’s new sense of daring doesn’t get anyone else hurt by accident.

While in Colorado for Beth’s second funeral, Dog’s crew went out to catch a fugitive for the first time since Beth died. Dog’s son Leland, who often helps with the family business, joined his dad on the raid despite nursing a previous knee injury.

Leland ended up in the hospital after kicking down a fence door to tackle the fugitive. Thankfully, he was released after surgery in time to attend Beth’s funeral.

The Chapman’s work is dangerous, especially now that they’ve decided to hunt down possible murderers and rapists. But Beth gave the new show her full blessing.

“Beth and I noticed it was more exciting and dangerous and gratifying to take out these kinds of fugitives,” Dog explains. “So this [show] is a lot crazier.”

“Dog’s Most Wanted” is scheduled to premiere on WGN America on Sept. 4.