Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Adopt Adorable Puppy After Emotional Connection to Their Late Dog Chewie
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have officially welcomed a new puppy into their family, revealing that they adopted the adorable dog just one day after introducing him to viewers of Live With Kelly and Mark. The decision has brought excitement to the couple, with Ripa also finding a touching connection between their newest family member and their beloved late dog, Chewie.
During Tuesday’s episode on October 13, Consuelos shared the happy news with viewers, confirming that the puppy, initially introduced as Lucas, had joined their family under a new name: Javi, short for Javier.
“We have news. We adopted Javi yesterday,” Consuelos announced.
Ripa was equally thrilled, describing the experience as one that had left her feeling like an expectant parent.
“We have a new baby. Not living in the house yet. We’ve got to wait for a couple of medicals, a couple of tests, but we are like expectant parents,” she said.
She added that the excitement had kept her awake the previous night, explaining that she had already started preparing for the puppy’s arrival.
A new puppy brings back memories of Chewie
Javi’s journey into the Ripa-Consuelos household began on Monday, October 12, when Consuelos carried the puppy onto the set of Live With Kelly and Mark.
The couple were participating in the programme’s “Adoption Week”, which highlights dogs looking for loving homes. According to the show’s website, Lucas was a four-month-old Shih Tzu who had recently been rescued from a puppy mill. Described as a dog who loved everyone, he was looking for a family to call his own.
Consuelos quickly appeared smitten with the puppy, even suggesting the name Javier before the couple had made their adoption decision.
“Oh, boy…” Ripa joked as she watched her husband cuddle the dog.
She also noticed a softer side to Consuelos as he held Lucas, telling viewers: “Mark walked into my dressing room this morning with Lucas in his arms, and I saw a different you. I saw a kinder, gentler you.”
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
The couple had previously adopted two dogs, Chewie and Lena, after the animals appeared on Live during adoption segments.
Chewie, who died in February 2025 at the age of 17, remained a deeply cherished member of the family. Ripa later revealed that she felt their newest puppy had arrived in her life for a special reason.
“Somebody on social media said, ‘Oh, Chewie sent you a good one.’ And I was like, ‘Yes!’ I was thinking that, too, that my beloved dog, who I will never get over and mourn for the rest of my life, sent this little dog here,” she shared.
Ripa explained that she had been hoping to adopt another small black dog who resembled Lena, without having a particular breed in mind. Javi, however, reminded her of Chewie, making the encounter even more emotional.
“I decided I was only going to get a dog — and I didn’t really care about the breed, but I wanted a dog that looked exactly like Lena. You know what I mean? Just a small, little black dog. That’s what I was in the market for. And then, you brought this Chewie-like dog, and I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh!’” she said.
There was another meaningful connection, too. Ripa revealed that the producer who introduced them to Javi was the same person who had first brought Lena to her on the show years earlier.
“We’re very excited,” Ripa concluded.
Lena meets the newest member of the family
Before finalising the adoption, the couple arranged for their existing dog, Lena, to meet Javi.
On Monday, they brought Lena to the studio, and the meeting was later shared on Instagram. Consuelos described the encounter as a little “chemistry test” between the two dogs.
He was pleased that Lena had not barked at the newcomer, although Ripa joked that her dog seemed just as frightened of Javi as she was of other dogs.
Despite the slightly uncertain first meeting, Ripa believed Lena would become more comfortable with time. Consuelos was optimistic that the pair would eventually become “great buddies”.
The couple’s decision also came after viewers encouraged them to adopt the puppy during the programme’s “The Inbox” segment on Monday.
One fan wrote to Ripa, explaining that male dogs could form particularly close bonds with their owners and suggesting that Javi would be a perfect addition to the family.
Another viewer encouraged the couple to go ahead, saying they had successfully kept male and female dogs together and found the arrangement worked well.
Ripa had previously admitted that she tended to prefer female dogs, as the couple had only owned girls. Consuelos, however, was keen to convince her otherwise, insisting that male dogs were wonderful companions.
By Tuesday, the pair had made their decision official.
Remembering the dog who stayed with the family for 17 years
Javi’s arrival marks a new chapter for the couple following the loss of Chewie, who had been part of their lives for 17 years.
In February 2025, Ripa announced Chewie’s death in an emotional Instagram tribute, remembering how the dog had grown up alongside the couple’s children and remained a constant presence as they gradually left home.
“She grew up with our kids and remained at our sides when each left the nest. She waited by the front door to welcome her siblings back home when they returned for visits. She was our stoic constant companion,” Ripa wrote.
She also reflected on the comfort of imagining Chewie free from the physical difficulties she had experienced towards the end of her life.
“We know she is running free now somewhere warm and sunny, unburdened by her failing body. We were the luckiest family to have loved and been loved by Chewie,” she added.
Now, with Javi officially joining the family, Ripa and Consuelos are looking forward to life with their newest companion — one who has already brought them joy and reminded them of the dog they continue to miss.
Live With Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays. Check local listings for broadcast times.