Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are opening up about the possibility of welcoming another furry friend into their family.
The Live with Kelly and Mark co-hosts, both 54, recently reflected on the loss of their beloved Shih Tzu, Chewie, who died in February at age 17, and shared that they may be ready to adopt again.
The couple revealed to PEOPLE that while Chewie’s passing has left a deep void, they’re “considering” giving their current pup Lena, a Maltese/Shih Tzu mix adopted in 2020, a sibling.
“We’re looking to maybe get Lena … a sibling,” Ripa said, noting that the thought of adopting again comes with mixed emotions.
“We’re still not over the loss of our dog. I don’t think we ever will be, frankly. But we definitely are considering a sibling.”
Consuelos pointed out that Pet Week on Live is always meaningful since it helps animals find homes, and this year it feels especially close to their hearts.
The pair explained that if they do move forward, size will play a big role in their decision. With frequent travel, they need a dog “small enough to fit in the seat in front of us” on a plane, Ripa shared.
Chewie’s passing was first announced during the Feb. 5 broadcast of Live with Kelly and Mark.
At the time, Consuelos revealed that the dog had stopped eating and was suffering from dehydration and neurological issues.
The couple made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize her. “It’s probably one of the toughest things we’ve had to do as a married couple,” Consuelos said.
Ripa grew emotional while talking about Chewie on-air, telling viewers, “We’ve been so lucky. We’re very fortunate people in our lives; we’ve not had loss in our lives, a tremendous loss like this.
We still have all of our parents. We’re so fortunate. I feel very bad crying in front of you when people have — there are much bigger problems in the world, and I understand that. But you have to understand, that this dog was so special, and she was such a great girl.”
Consuelos added that Chewie grew up alongside their three children, Michael, 28, Lola, 24, and Joaquin, 22, and that they may never have had her in their lives if it weren’t for the show.
Now, months later, the couple is weighing their options, taking time to grieve while leaving the door open to welcome another rescue dog into their family.
