Kelly Ripa continues to mourn the loss of her family’s beloved pet Chewie, who passed away this month.
Ripa, 54, and husband Mark Consuelos, 53, initially shared news of their dog’s death on their morning talk show, Live with Kelly and Mark, last week.
And during a moment in Wednesday’s episode she got emotional while they discussed an article about evidence of life after death.
Taking to Instagram later in the day, the mom-of-three paid tribute to the pooch, who was a Shih Tzu.
She wrote in the caption of a montage video, ‘I’ve been avoiding posting this because it somehow makes it real and I’m not quite ready to let go. It’s been extremely painful to lose our beloved Chewie. We ache for her every single day.’
Kelly’s heart-wrenching note went on, ‘We still look for her and call to her and frankly feel lost. We are so grateful for the almost 18 years we had with this special lady.’
Kelly Ripa continues to mourn the loss of her family’s beloved pet Chewie , who passed away this month
Ripa, 54, and husband Mark Consuelos, 53, initially shared news of their dog’s death on their morning talk show, Live with Kelly and Mark, last week
Mark shared the sad update at the start of a Live with Kelly and Mark episode last week, revealing that Chewie’s health had quickly declined and that she had stopped eating and become ‘extremely dehydrated.’
Kelly, who also shares four-year-old dog Lena and children Michael, 27, Lola, 23, and Joaquin, 21, with Mark, continued: ‘We’re filled with gratitude for this dog. I apologize, I’m so sorry. She gave us so much.
‘As each one of our kids left for college and then moved out on their own, Chewie remained right there like our steadfast companion.’
She briefly became distraught before she eventually managed to say: ‘I’m really sorry. I thought I got it all out, guys. I really thought I got it all out, and I apologize because I did not. This is not how I wanted this to go down. God, she gave us so much.’
The doting pet owner echoed some of the same sentiments in her social media post on Wednesday.
Her lengthy caption to her 3.4 million followers continued, ‘She grew up with our kids and remained at our sides when each left the nest. She waited by the front door to welcome her siblings back home when they returned for visits.
‘She was our stoic, constant companion. We know she is running free now somewhere warm and sunny, unburdened by her failing body.’
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the mom-of-three paid tribute to the pooch, who was a Shih Tzu
She wrote in the caption of a montage video, ‘I’ve been avoiding posting this because it somehow makes it real and I’m not quite ready to let go. It’s been extremely painful to lose our beloved Chewie’
Her lengthy caption to her 3.4 million followers continued, ‘She grew up with our kids and remained at our sides when each left the nest. She waited by the front door to welcome her siblings back home when they returned for visits’
One of the talk show host’s sons pictured with the adored family dog in a throwback image
Reflecting on the family’s years with the pup, Ripa added, ‘We were the luckiest family to have loved and been loved by Chewie.
‘Thank you to The North Shore Animal League for blessing us with our fabulous girl. Finally, thank you to everyone for the beautiful messages from all of you who knew or felt like you knew Chewie. Our hearts may be broken, but are filled with the memories of joy Chewie gave us.’
On the February 5 episode of their show, Consuelos reflected about their decision to put their ailing Chewie to sleep: ‘It’s probably one of the toughest things we’ve had to do as a married couple.’
Fans expressed support and empathy in the comments of Kelly’s post, with one writing, ‘She was so loved and so were you. A special pup in a very special family.’
Another person had a big reaction, sharing, ‘Literally sobbing. My heart breaks for you,’ and advising, ‘Be patient with yourself during this unimaginable time.’
