The beloved television hosts fell head over heels in love with the rescue dog during a special themed episode of their morning talk show, "Live with Kelly and Mark." However, before the little dog can officially transition to his permanent home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, he must complete medical treatments for a common canine health concern.
"We don’t have him yet because he had a little bit of a health issue," Ripa explained to People magazine during a recent Broadway outing for the opening of the play "Other Desert Cities."
Consuelos shared additional details regarding the delay, noting that their new rescue pet is currently receiving treatment for a parasite. "They’re treating it, and then he’s going to come," the co-host added, assuring fans that the household expects their little four-legged friend to become an official resident of their sprawling townhouse "any day now."
The path to adoption began on October 12 during the "Adopt a Dog Week" episode of their syndicated morning program. Javi, who was originally named Lucas before the couple decided to rename him, came to the show via Pet ResQ Inc., a New Jersey-based animal rescue organization. The puppy made an immediate and profound impact on Consuelos from the moment they crossed paths behind the scenes.
"Listen, Mark walked into my dressing room this morning with Lucas in his arms," Ripa recalled to viewers during the broadcast. "And I saw a different you. I saw a kinder, gentler you."
Although the couple quickly realized they wanted to add the pooch to their family, they were careful to ensure he would integrate smoothly with their existing pet. Ripa and Consuelos are already pet parents to Lena, a Maltese-shih tzu mix whom they adopted back in 2020.
To ensure household harmony, the couple decided to arrange a formal chemistry test to see how the two dogs would interact. By the very next day, during the October 13 episode of the show, the hosts were thrilled to announce that the initial meeting went exceptionally well. They officially moved forward with the adoption, noting that they intended to take things slowly to give both pups ample time to adjust to sharing a living space.
"We have a new baby. Not living in the house yet. Gotta wait for a couple of medicals, a couple of tests, but we are, like, expectant parents," Ripa told their television audience. "Like, I started nesting last night. I couldn’t sleep. I started making a nest."
When Javi finally makes his long-awaited journey to the Ripa-Consuelos household, he will have an extraordinary amount of space to explore. The couple purchased their expansive 7,796-square-foot Upper East Side residence for $27 million back in 2013, creating a magnificent urban sanctuary for their family.
Aside from their growing menagerie of pets, Ripa, 56, and Consuelos, 55, share three adult children: Michael, 29, Lola, 25, and Joaquin, 23. Over the years, Ripa has frequently spoken about her deep affection for their Manhattan home, even expressing to Architectural Digest that she intends for the property to be her permanent residence. She famously joked that her family would "have to carry me out of here feet first because I have gotten good and comfortable in this house."
Despite Ripa’s firm roots in New York, her children occasionally try to alter the family’s geographical trajectory. Their middle child, Lola, who relocated across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom in 2023, has maintained a persistent campaign to convince her parents to join her abroad.
"Lola is always trying to get us to move to London, as if we don’t work in New York," Ripa shared regarding her daughter’s subtle persuasion tactics. "She’ll leave us these subtle hints when she’s home, when there is something on sale in London."
Even though the couple remains firmly anchored to their domestic careers and home base in Manhattan, they make it a priority to cross the ocean to visit their daughter. Demonstrating their dedication as parents, Ripa and Consuelos recently pulled off a surprise international trip to support Lola at a performance celebrating the launch of her musical EP.
"We wanted to go, but we didn’t want to add any more pressure by us being there. She told us not to go, specifically," Consuelos explained of their covert operation. By quietly sneaking into the crowd, the supportive parents managed to surprise their daughter and celebrate her artistic milestone in person.
