Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos Officially Adopt a New Family MemberPaige Strout Tue, October 13, 2026 at 2:04 PM UTC
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on the October 12, 2026, episode of 'Live With Kelly and Mark.' - ABCRipa and Consuelos celebrated 'Adoption Week' with an adorable special guest.
UPDATE (10/13/26 9:53 a.m. ET): Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are officially new puppy parents.
One day after introducing an adorable pup named Lucas to Live With Kelly and Mark viewers, the couple confirmed their plans to adopt the dog, now named Javi (short for Javier), on the show’s Tuesday, October 13, episode.
“We have news. We adopted Javi yesterday,” Consuelos announced. Ripa added, “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. I started nesting last night. I couldn’t sleep. I started making a nest.”
On Monday, October 12, Ripa and Consuelos brought their dog, Lena, to the show’s set to meet Javi, and shared the sweet interaction on Instagram. “We kind of had a little chemistry test, meet-cute. And Lena, she didn’t bark at Javi,” Consuelos shared. Ripa noted, “She’s very funny, though. She’s as terrified of Javi as she is every other dog.”
Ripa said that Lena will continue to warm up to Javi with time, while Consuelos said the two dogs will eventually become “great buddies.”
For Ripa, Javi came as a gift from her late beloved dog, Chewie. “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 gushed. “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!’”
Additionally, Ripa revealed that the producer who introduced the couple to Javi was the same person who first handed Lena to her on the show years ago. (Both Lena and Chewie were adopted by the pair after appearing on Live.)
“We’re very excited,” Ripa concluded.
ORIGINAL STORY (10/12/26 11:48 a.m. ET):
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ family may soon add a new member.
At the top of Live With Kelly and Mark‘s Monday, October 12, episode, Consuelos walked on set while holding an adorable puppy. He carried the dog over to the hosts’ desk, and the pup sat in his lap for the first several minutes of the show.
“It is Columbus Day, it is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and it is, let me remind you, Mark is a Shih Tzu Man Day,” Ripa joked. “We’re doing Adoption Week here at the show, which, as you know, we have adopted both Chewie, our beloved, may she rest in peace, Chewie, and our beloved Lena.”
Consuelos shared that the dog in his lap was named Lucas. “Oh, boy…” Ripa quipped while looking at the puppy, while Consuelos added, “I know. Lucas is pretty cute.” Ripa continued, “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.”
According to Live‘s website, Lucas is “a 4 month old Shih Tzu who was recently rescued from a puppy mill. He just loves everyone and would make a great family pet.”
During the episode’s opening conversation, the couple would occasionally pause to gush over Lucas. “I was thinking Javi would be a good name for him, Javier,” Consuelos stated, to which Ripa said, “This is trouble. He’s naming this dog that we have not adopted.”
ABC
Ripa noted that she’s preferred owning female dogs in the past. “I think because we’ve only had girl dogs,” she said. Consuelos replied, “Boy dogs are great. And they get along better with the female dogs. They say that, in the house. That’s what they say.”
Ripa went on to tease that the puppy could be coming home with her and Consuelos. “Lena, she’s on her way here to meet Lucas/Javi,” she revealed. “We will see.”
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Later, Ripa held Lucas in her lap during “The Inbox” segment at the end of the episode, where several fans encouraged the pair to adopt him. Ripa read one fan message which read, “Hey, Kelly. We have rescued a number of dogs over the years, and I have to tell you that the male dogs love their mamas. Mark has Lena. Now, you have your Javi.”
Sharing another, Consuelos read, “Looks like a new family member to me. I have always had male and female together, and it’s perfect. I also find male dogs are more affectionate. Go for it.”
As Ripa noted, she and Consuelos adopted their dogs, Chewie and Lena, after they each appeared on Live during dog adoption segments. In February 2025, Ripa announced on Instagram that Chewie died at age 17.
“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 alongside photos and videos of her late pet. “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.”
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