Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos‘ latest Live With Kelly and Mark conversation made the couple burst into laughter.

Among the topics the pair discussed at the top of the show’s Tuesday, August 11, episode, Ripa read a report about how Pennsylvania is introducing a bill that would consider pets as family members in legal matters such as divorce. “There would be new rules about shared schedule, custody arrangements, divisions of costs associated with the pet,” she explained.

Looking directly at Consuelos, she continued, “It also directs judges to consider factors similar to child custody cases, such as who provides daily care for the pet, or who rescued the pet out of the shelter, and who didn’t want the pet to begin with.”

Consuelos clapped back at Ripa’s comments, stating, “But who’s up with the pet every time she has diarrhea from, like, 12 o’clock at night ’til seven o’clock in the morning.” Ripa retorted, “The person that didn’t want to adopt her, ’cause that’s how karma works.”

The couple share three kids — Michael, Lola, and Joaquin — and are also the proud dog parents to their adorable pup, Lena. The family adopted Lena shortly after she appeared in a pet-themed segment on Live in 2021.

ABC

Both Ripa and Consuelos frequently gush over their beloved dog on the show. Consuelos revealed just how strong his love for Lena is on Tuesday, as he went on to tell Ripa, “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. That’s how much I love Lena.”

His candid confession left Ripa in stitches. “Is that all you’re asking for, is a loveless marriage?” she quipped. “Done!”

If he and Ripa got divorced, Consuelos said he would “stay up at night, wondering what [Lena] is doing.” Ripa jokingly added, “Just wondering if there was some other man petting her.”

The duo wrapped up the discussion by reacting to a photo of Lena shown on the screen. “Look at Lena. That’s my Lena,” Consuelos gushed, while Ripa remarked, “She really is a doll face. She’s such a doll.”

Ripa recently missed two weeks of the show to recover from a recent gum graft surgery. Though she returned to the hosting desk on Monday, August 10, episodes this week through Labor Day will all be prerecorded, as the Live crew is currently on their annual summer break, per People.

Courtesy of ‘Live With Kelly and Mark’/Instagram

Just like Tuesday’s episode, the prerecorded episodes will feature new conversations with Ripa and Consuelos, as well as pre-filmed segments and past interviews with celebrity guests. Live will reportedly return with new, live episodes on Tuesday, September 8, which will mark the show’s Season 39 premiere.

Live With Kelly and Mark, Weekdays, Check Local Listings