Alex is the only certified therapy rabbit in the world, and he’s been qualified by the San Francisco SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy, his owner, Josh Row, said.
Viral bunny ‘Alex the Great’ takes over San Francisco sports games
Meet Alex the Great, a San Francisco therapy bunny whose love for sports has gone viral! From baseball to NASCAR, this bunny is a fan favorite!
Alex the Great is back at the ballpark and making waves once again.
The 4-year-old Flemish Giant Rabbit, who made a fan out of Grammy-winning singer Chappell Roan after going viral multiple times since its memorable appearance in 2021, sent the internet into a tizzy yet again last Saturday as the San Francisco Giants opened their home schedule against the Seattle Mariners at Oracle Park.
The 28-pound bunny’s owner, Josh Row, told USA TODAY that fans and the San Francisco Giants, which also happens to be Alex’s favorite team, were thrilled to have him at the match. Those who know of Alex are super excited every time he is spotted at a game, he added.
“(For them) it’s (like) meeting a celebrity,” Row said, adding that people who are just now finding out about him “want to know more.”
While rabbits are generally not allowed in stadiums, the craisins-loving bunny gets a special pass because Alex is the only certified therapy rabbit in the world, and he’s been qualified by the San Francisco SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy, according to Row.
“That’s how he was allowed in at first,” Row said. “Now he is welcomed by the Giants to every home game.”
During Saturday’s game, sportscaster and former Major League Baseball player Mike Krukow was heard saying: “Whoever discovered the beauty of the therapy animal is — a special place in Heaven for. It is remarkable what animals can do to relieve anxiety and depression.”
Alex ‘is the perfect crossbreed’ between rabbit, dog
Josh Row and his partner, Kathreen Kei Koc, who both live in San Francisco, rescued Alex from a meat farm in central California when he was just 3½ weeks old. A rabbit may appear as an odd choice for a pet, but for Row and Koc, the decision was an emotional one.
Row said he previously owned a lionhead rabbit, who died in 2016 of old age at 16. Koc owned a Husky, but he retired to Spain with family so he had land he could play in.
“Coming out of COVID, we both had lost a pet and (when) we got the opportunity to rescue Alex, the timing was perfect,” Row said. “He is the perfect crossbreed (rabbit/dog).”
NASCAR gets Alex’s engine running
While Alex is a staple at San Francisco Giants home games, baseball is not the only sport he enjoys, according to Row. The domestic hare loves watching several sports on TV, especially NASCAR.
“To this day he comes running to his seat in front of the TV when he hears the cars,” Row said.
Alex even had the opportunity to watch NASCAR in person, and he even got to view the event from a private suite.
During the last 10 laps of the NASCAR Championship last year, “Alex was ears up and following the cars on the track with his head moving with the cars,” Row said, adding, “On the flip (side), the championship wasn’t as exciting for us given it was a runaway win.”
Baseball games a ‘much more suitable environment’ for Alex
Alex has watched NBA and NHL games, but Row said baseball games offer a “much more suitable environment for him to go in person” given those games are outdoors with calmer crowds and less noise compared to other sporting events.
“Alex loves all sports,” Row said. “If there is action, he is all about it.”
Attending games and being part of the crowds is fun, but according to Row, the most memorable experience for him with Alex was when they went to Super Zoo last year and received an overwhelmingly warm welcome.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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