Kelly Ripa breaks down on 'Live' with husband Mark Consuelos over death of their 17-year-old dog Chewie

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos mourned the death of their family dog, Chewie, in an emotional 'Live' broadcast.

On Wednesday’s episode of 'Live with Kelly and Mark', Consuelos emotionally revealed that he and Ripa had to say goodbye to their beloved Shih Tzu, Chewie.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' tough decision for Chewie

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' 17-year-old dog had been struggling with her health for several weeks and, after careful consideration, the couple made the difficult decision to euthanize her at their New York City home.

Consuelos explained that Chewie had stopped eating and was severely dehydrated.

"She had some neurological issues going on," he shared, adding that while the decision was the right one, it was one of the hardest things they had done together as a married couple.

The family had a veterinarian come to their home to ensure Chewie's final moments were peaceful and surrounded by love.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' overwhelming emotional moment

As Mark Consuelos shared the heartbreaking news, Kelly Ripa became visibly emotional, wiping away tears and eventually burying her head in her hands.

She later apologized to the audience for breaking down, saying, "I thought I got it all out, guys. I really thought I got it all out, and I apologize because this is not how I wanted this to go down."

Ripa reminisced about Chewie's impact on their lives, expressing deep gratitude for her presence.

"She gave us so much. We’re filled with gratitude for this dog," Ripa said.

"As each one of our kids left for college and moved out on their own, Chewie remained right there. Our steadfast companion," she added.

She also acknowledged that they had been fortunate to avoid major personal losses in their lives until now, making Chewie’s passing even more poignant.

A community in mourning

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos shared how their neighborhood was deeply affected by the death of Chewie, with people, including their mail carrier, coming by to pay their respects.

"She was such a beloved member of the community. Not just our dog, she was like the neighborhood dog," Ripa said.

Ripa also shared a personal moment after Chewie's death.

"She never let us kiss her face; she was very precious about her face. But after she passed away last night, I kissed her 1,000 times on her face," she shared.

"I kissed her nose. I’d never kissed her nose before. I know she was somewhere in dog heaven, probably annoyed, but I didn’t care because it was so nice to have that moment," she recalled.

Mark Consuelos opens up on grief following Chewie's death

Mark Consuelos comforted Kelly Ripa, telling her she had been an incredible dog mom. "She adored you," he said.

Chewie was one of two dogs in the Consuelos family.

The couple is also pet parents to Lena, a Maltese/Shih Tzu mix that Ripa adopted in 2020, according to People.

Over the past few weeks, the hosts had been updating viewers on Chewie’s declining health, preparing them for the inevitable goodbye.

Consuelos acknowledged the profound grief that comes with losing a pet, saying, "It takes a pet owner to understand this kind of loss. It’s grief. It really is grief."