Kelly Ripa recently shared her concerns about Chewie, her beloved senior dog, during an episode of *Live with Kelly and Mark*. At 53, Ripa confided in her husband and co-host, Mark Consuelos, about her 17-year-old dog’s disorientation, emphasizing her desire to be at home with Chewie.
Ripa noticed Chewie’s unusual behavior, stating, “Our dog Chewie, who is now quite old, seemed really disoriented yesterday.” Consuelos, 52, attributed the behavior to Chewie’s advanced age, suggesting, “She’s 17, so perhaps she was just having an off day.”
However, Ripa felt the situation was more serious than a mere bad day. “It was a really bad day,” she clarified, expressing her deep concern and her wish to be at home rather than at work.
Chewie’s condition seemed to worsen when she walked into a wall and fell over, prompting Ripa to describe the experience of watching her dog age as “torture,” given Chewie’s inability to communicate her discomfort. Despite this, Ripa noted, “She does say a lot with her eyes,” capturing the emotional bond they share.
Consuelos observed a positive change by the end of the day, mentioning how Chewie had perked up and even jumped onto their bed to sleep between them. This brought some relief to Ripa, though she remained worried about her longtime companion.
Ripa’s mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Chewie, indicating how much the 17-year-old pup means to her and Consuelos. Chewie has been an integral part of their family for years, alongside their other rescue dog, Lena, and their three children, Michael, 26, Lola, 22, and Joaquin, 21.
Lena, the family’s most recent canine addition, turned Consuelos, who hadn’t grown up with pets, into a “dog lover.” The couple adopted the Maltese/Shih Tzu mix in 2021 after she appeared on a segment of *Live with Kelly and Ryan*.
Before Lena’s adoption, Ripa was concerned about how Chewie would react, not wanting her to feel replaced. Fortunately, the two dogs got along well. Ripa celebrated National Puppy Day with a heartfelt tribute to both Chewie and Lena, showcasing their importance in her life with a series of photos set to Paul Anka’s “Puppy Love.”