Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have adopted a rescue dog named Javi after an unexpected meeting on their morning talk show brought back memories of their beloved late dog, Chewie. The couple announced their decision during the October 13 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, just one day after the little dog appeared on the program as part of its annual Adopt a Dog Week.
What began as an ordinary adoption segment quickly became something much more personal. Javi, originally named Lucas, seemed especially comfortable in Consuelos’s arms, and Ripa couldn’t help noticing how much he reminded her of Chewie, the family’s cherished Shih Tzu who passed away in February 2025 at age 17. For Ripa, the resemblance felt like more than a coincidence.
A Rescue Dog Makes Himself Comfortable With Mark Consuelos
Javi came to the show through Pet ResQ Inc., an animal rescue organization based in New Jersey. When Consuelos carried the little dog onto the set on October 12, the pup appeared perfectly content being held by the television host. He even fell asleep in Consuelos’s arms while the couple continued their conversation.
Ripa noticed something different about her husband as soon as she saw them together. She told viewers that Consuelos had walked into her dressing room carrying Lucas, and she was struck by how gentle he seemed with the little dog.
Consuelos was equally impressed with his new furry acquaintance. He described the dog as calm and easygoing, and before long, he was already suggesting a different name for him.
He liked the name Javi, short for Javier, even though Ripa reminded him that the dog’s name was Lucas. She immediately recognized where the conversation might be heading, joking that her husband was naming a dog they hadn’t even adopted.
By the following morning, however, the joke had become reality. Consuelos opened the October 13 show by announcing that they had adopted Javi the previous day, and Ripa happily declared that they had a new baby.
Javi Still Had to Meet His New Canine Sister
Before making the adoption official, the couple wanted to see how Javi would get along with Lena, their Maltese-Shih Tzu mix. Lena had also joined their family after appearing on Live, making the new adoption a familiar experience for the television hosts.
Ripa had some concerns about bringing a male dog into the household because their previous dogs had all been female. The couple arranged for Lena to meet Javi so they could observe how the two dogs responded to each other.
At first, Lena seemed a little uncertain about the newcomer. Fortunately, the introduction went well enough that the couple felt comfortable moving forward, and Ripa later shared that the dogs had started playing near each other.
They aren’t rushing the relationship, though. Ripa explained that they plan to introduce the dogs gradually, giving Lena and Javi time to become comfortable sharing a home. Consuelos was already hopeful that the pair would become great buddies.
Why Javi Reminded Kelly Ripa of Chewie
Although Javi’s arrival brought plenty of excitement, it also stirred memories of a dog Ripa and Consuelos still miss deeply. Their Shih Tzu, Chewie, had been part of their family for 17 years before her health declined, and they made the difficult decision to say goodbye.
Chewie had been a constant companion as the couple raised their three children, Michael, Lola, and Joaquin. Even after the children grew older and moved away from home, Chewie remained by their side, making her loss especially difficult for the family.
Ripa had previously spoken about wanting another dog but wasn’t ready to replace the companionship she had lost. She had even imagined adopting a small black dog resembling Lena rather than looking for one who reminded her of Chewie.
Then Javi appeared in her husband’s arms, and those plans suddenly changed. Ripa told viewers that she kept thinking about Chewie while watching the little rescue dog and wondered whether her beloved companion had somehow brought him into their lives.
“Oh, I bet Chewie sent Javi here for us,” Ripa recalled thinking. It was a deeply personal way of understanding a meeting she hadn’t expected and a new relationship she hadn’t planned.
A New Beginning for Javi and His Family
The couple’s decision was especially surprising because Consuelos hadn’t initially intended to carry a dog onto the set that Monday. When someone asked whether he wanted to bring a pup out for the segment, he first declined before changing his mind and asking to see the dog.
Ripa also credited Live producer Ashley Lewis with helping bring the family together. Lewis had previously helped introduce Ripa to Lena, and she believed Javi was a promising match as soon as she saw him with Consuelos.
Javi hasn’t moved into the couple’s home just yet. He still needs to complete medical testing before joining the household, but Ripa is already preparing for his arrival and admitted that the excitement had kept her awake the previous night.
For now, the family has a new dog to welcome, a careful introduction with Lena to continue, and plenty of anticipation about the days ahead. Chewie will always hold her own place in their lives, but Javi is already giving Ripa and Consuelos another little companion to love.
This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.
Toledo, United States.