Kelly Ripa breaks down on Live as Mark Consuelos shares news of their beloved dog Chewie's passing: 'She grew up with our kids'

 Kelly Ripa breaks down on Live as Mark Consuelos shares news of their beloved dog Chewie's passing: 'She grew up with our kids'

"She was very much like a cat in many ways," Ripa shared, reflecting on her late dog Chewie. "She’d come to you for affection only when she wanted it." Fighting back tears, Ripa recounted their final moments together. "She never let us kiss her face—she was very particular about that. But after she passed away last night, I kissed her face a thousand times. I kissed her nose, something I’d never done before. And I know, somewhere in dog heaven, she’s probably annoyed. But I didn’t care—it was so comforting to finally do that."

Mark Consuelos tried to keep the show moving, offering words of reassurance. "We’re going to get through it all together," he told Ripa and the crew.

Earlier this year, Ripa had shared with Live viewers that Chewie, nearing her 18th birthday in May, had slipped and fallen after an accident at home. She also spoke about how the beloved pet had been "slowing down" in her final months. In addition to Chewie, the family has another dog, 4-year-old Lena, who often becomes a topic of conversation on the couple’s talk show.