Ripa and Consuelos joke about pet custody in hypothetical divorce

During a lighthearted discussion on their talk show, television hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos revealed that the custody of their dog, Lena, would be a major point of contention in a hypothetical divorce, with Consuelos joking he would choose a loveless marriage to keep the pet. The conversation, which aired on the August 11, 2026, episode of "Live with Kelly and Mark," was prompted by a proposed Pennsylvania bill that would change how pets are treated in divorce proceedings.

The couple discussed legislation that would elevate pets from being considered property to recognized family members in the state. According to reports, the bill would direct judges to consider factors similar to child custody cases, such as who provides daily care for the animal. Ripa read a portion of the proposed law, which also mentioned considering "who rescued the pet out of the shelter, and who didn't want the pet to begin with."

Consuelos responded to the latter point by noting he is often the one caring for Lena during bouts of illness, to which Ripa retorted that it was "karma" for his initial reluctance to adopt the dog. Despite this, Consuelos made a firm declaration about his attachment to...