Mark Consuelos apparently has one dealbreaker when it comes to divorce: the dog.
The"Live with Kelly and Mark" cohost joked that he would rather remain in a "loveless marriage" with wife Kelly Ripa than risk being separated from their beloved dog, Lena.
The longtime couple got into the topic during the pre-recorded Aug. 11 episode of their daytime talk show, which was filmed before Ripa, 55, left on an extended absence while she recovers from gum graft surgery. During the episode, the couple discussed the proposed legislation in Pennsylvania that would change how pets are classified in divorce proceedings.
Ripa explained that if enacted, the law would "recognize pets as family members, elevating their status in situations such as divorce." The
conversation prompted the couple to consider what would happen to Lena if their own marriage ever ended.
Consuelos, 55, made it clear he wouldn't take the possibility of losing his four-legged companion well. "I mean, listen. Let's just put it this way. I would stay in a loveless marriage just to make sure I could be with Lena every day," Consuelos said. "That's how much I love Lena."
Ripa didn't seem particularly bothered by her husband's hypothetical arrangement. "Is that all you're asking for, is a loveless marriage? Because that can be arranged," the talk-show host joked, before declaring "Done!"
Consuelos took the joke divorce a step further, admitting he would "stay up at night" thinking about Lena if the couple went their separate ways, to which Ripa playfully replied that he would be "wondering if there was some other man petting her."
The couple adopted Lena, a Maltese and Shih Tzu mix, in March 2021 after she appeared on a pet adoption segment on "Live," according to People magazine. Ripa and Consuelos fell for the rescue dog during the broadcast and later welcomed her into their family. Lena has since become a familiar presence in the couple's lives and on the show, frequently making cameos on camera.
Consuelos and Ripa previously had another rescue dog, Chewie, who died in February 2025 at 17. Ripa became emotional while announcing Chewie's death on the show, reflecting on the dog's longtime place in their family.
"She gave us so much," Ripa told the audience. "As each one of our kids left for college and then moved out on their own, Chewie remained right there like our steadfast companion."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Consuelos reveals his divorce dealbreaker with Kelly Ripa
