Mark Consuelos is offering comfort to Kelly Ripa as they both experience heartache after the demise of their adored dog, Chewie. The couple shared on Live with Kelly and Mark the difficulty of saying farewell to their 17-year-old Shih Tzu. Chewie's health had been declining and they made the difficult choice to euthanize her at their residence.
On the Monday episode of Live with Kelly and Mark aired on February 10th the pair discussed a Farmer's Dog food advertisement shown during the Super Bowl that depicted a touching connection between a girl and her dog. Ripa admitted she could not watch it. She expressed that she is "still not over the loss of Chewie " and any reminder brings back the grief. Consuelos responded with empathy noting the shared experience with others who have also lost pets. He stated that many people have expressed similar sentiments since Chewie's demise.
Consuelos mentioned that "The only way to get over it is to get through it" acknowledging the grieving process. Ripa emphasized that many pet owners are "still not over it" highlighting the enduring nature of pet loss grief. Consuelos reassured her and viewers that "it'll get better I promise."
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The couple openly shared the news of Chewie's passing on the February 5th episode of Live with Kelly and Mark. Consuelos recounted the difficult day explaining they had a vet come to their New York City apartment for humane euthanasia. He detailed Chewie's declining health. Consuelos described it as "one of the toughest things we've had to do as a married couple." He acknowledged the profound understanding among pet owners regarding such losses stating "It takes a pet owner to understand this kind of loss. It's grief. It really is grief."
Consuelos also emphasized the compassionate reasoning behind their choice. He mentioned "knowing that we did the right thing because it was just going to be really really really bad over the next few days for her." Fans reacted with words of support upon witnessing Ripa's visible emotion regarding Chewie. Many expressed sympathy online acknowledging the deep bond between humans and their pets.
Our Take On Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa's Openness About Pet Grief
Sharing Grief Over Pet Loss Helps Connect With Audience
Consuelos highlighted the origin of Chewie in their family narrative. He stated "If it wasn't for this show we wouldn't know Chewie." referring to Live. He noted "She grew up with our kids" emphasizing Chewie's long-standing presence in their family life. Ripa shared memories of Chewie expressing gratitude for their dog and stating "she gave us so much."
Ripa emotionally reflected on Chewie's role as a constant presence as her children grew up and left home. She said "As each one of our kids left for college and moved out on [their] own Chewie remained right there. Our steadfast companion." Ripa acknowledged their fortunate lives while recognizing the significant emotional impact of losing Chewie. She said "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."
Despite acknowledging broader global issues Ripa validated her grief for Chewie saying "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." The couple's openness about their sorrow resonates with many viewers who understand the profound bond with pets. Their shared grief becomes a relatable moment connecting them to their audience on a personal level.