Kelly Ripa was already preparing the house, but Javi was not there yet. On Oct. 13, she and Mark Consuelos announced that they had adopted the rescue dog after his television appearance the day before. His homecoming remained on hold while he underwent medical tests.
“We have news. We adopted Javi yesterday,” Consuelos said during the Oct. 13 broadcast of Live With Kelly and Mark.
Javi had appeared on the program’s Oct. 12 episode as part of Adopt a Dog Week. Pet ResQ Inc., the rescue organization involved in his adoption, originally called him Lucas. Ripa and Consuelos renamed him Javi as they prepared to welcome him into a family that already includes their dog Lena.
The commitment had been made, but the transition was still unfolding. No details were provided about the type or purpose of Javi’s medical tests, and no results or move-in date were announced. That leaves an important distinction: The family had adopted Javi, but he had not yet entered their home.
Ripa captured the strange pause between those two milestones with humor. Describing herself and Consuelos as expectant parents, she said, “I started nesting last night. I couldn’t sleep. I started making a nest.”
A first meeting that may need time
Javi’s pending arrival is not the family’s only unresolved step. He and Lena met backstage, where Ripa said Lena was frightened of him, as she is of other dogs. Consuelos remained hopeful that the two would eventually become close companions, though no later interaction between them was disclosed.
One difficult first meeting does not establish what the dogs’ long-term relationship will be. Dogs build relationships over time, and unfamiliar surroundings can add pressure to an introduction. Humane Colorado’s introduction guidance recommends beginning in a neutral location, using a separate handler for each leashed dog and watching their body posture carefully.
The organization also advises keeping leashes loose, rewarding calm behavior and shortening or increasing the distance of an interaction if either dog appears uncomfortable. Once home, the dogs should not be left alone together until the family is confident they are getting along. If introductions continue to go poorly, Humane Colorado recommends seeking help from a professional animal behaviorist rather than using punishment.
Those steps matter because a hopeful adoption announcement and a smooth household adjustment are not necessarily the same moment. A resident dog may need space, while a newly adopted dog is also learning unfamiliar rooms, routines, sounds and people. Slow introductions can give both animals room to respond without forcing closeness before they are ready.
Why the medical wait cannot be interpreted yet
Medical evaluation is a routine part of establishing care for many rescue pets, but the general possibilities should not be confused with Javi’s undisclosed tests. West Greenwich Animal Hospital’s rescue-pet guidance says an initial veterinary visit may include a physical examination, vital-sign assessment, vaccination review, parasite screening and evaluations of weight, nutrition and behavior. Only Javi’s veterinary team and caregivers can explain which checks he received and what they mean.
Pet ResQ’s published adoption process requires an application, a home visit and a meeting with the prospective dog. Families are asked to bring current dogs to that meeting, and adopters receive the dog’s veterinary records with the adoption contract. The rescue also recommends identification tags or microchipping after adoption.
For Ripa and Consuelos, married for 30 years and parents to Michael, Lola and Joaquin, the announcement marked another addition to the family without resolving precisely when that addition would arrive. Javi still had tests to complete, and Lena’s first fearful response left their relationship at its earliest stage.
For now, the house is being readied, Consuelos is holding on to the hope that the dogs will become companions, and Javi’s place in the family exists just ahead of his actual homecoming.
Have you ever adopted a dog with a story like this? Share it in the comments.
By Jake Patterson — Freelance feature writer and former animal-shelter volunteer focused on rescue, adoption, and second-chance dog stories.
