Alex the Great (rabbit)

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Alex the Great
Alex in Sonoma, California (2022)
SpeciesDomestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus)
BreedFlemish Giant
SexMale
Born2020
Modesto, California U.S.
DiedJuly 2025
UC Davis Veterinary Hospital, Davis, California, US
OccupationTherapy pet
Known forInternet celebrity
ResidenceLos Angeles, California U.S.
Weight28 lb (13 kg)
Named afterAlexander the Great
www.alexthegreat100.com

Alex the Great was a Flemish Giant rabbit from California, United States, known for his appearances at sporting events held at Oracle Park and his association with the San Francisco Giants baseball team. He was born on a meat farm and adopted at a young age to a couple who trained him to become a therapy animal.

Alex the Great died in July 2025 at the age of four after being diagnosed with cancer.

Life

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Alex the Great was born on a meat farm in Modesto, California.[1] In December 2020,[2] when he was just over three weeks old,[3] he was rescued and adopted by California couple Josh Row and Kathreen Kei Koc,[4] name also given as Kei Kato.[4] They searched for a Flemish Giant rabbit specifically, as they wanted a docile rabbit to use while doing volunteer work.[3] Kato had also lost her business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and said that adopting Alex had given her a new purpose and helped her manage her stress.[4] They began training him as a therapy animal in February 2021.[2]

In 2021, Kato brought Alex to a San Francisco Giants baseball game dressed in a bowtie with the team's colors;[2] she was interviewed with Alex[3][4] and his appearance went viral. The Giants invited him back[5] and he became a regular attendee at Oracle Park, the team's home field.[3] Known as the team's unofficial "Rally Rabbit" due to a series of wins the team made whilst Alex was in attendance,[6][5][7] he became well-known locally for his appearances at games.[8][5] Baseball card manufacturer Topps announced they intended to make trading cards featuring him.[3][6] In 2023, he "threw" a ceremonial first pitch with the help of Row and a pitching machine at a game with the Reno Aces.[9]

In 2022, Alex the Great was used by the San Francisco International Airport as part of their "Wag Brigade" - a set of animals would visited the airport to comfort nervous travelers.[1][10] He was the first rabbit used in the program, which also included dogs, such as a one-eyed cockapoo, and a pig.[1][10] Alex later performed similar tasks at San Jose Mineta International Airport.[2] Alex "autographed" business cards made for him by the San Francisco Airport by biting the corners.[2]

Alex also made appearances at in at charity events,[1] hospitals,[1] and in advertisements.[2] In May 2025, he had 100,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok.[3]

On July 21 2025, Alex's owners confirmed that he had died after being diagnosed with cancer; the rabbit had been receiving treatment at the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital and was four years old at the time of his death.[4]

Description

[edit]
An orange Flemish rabbit in stroller wearing a gold, glittery, cowboy hat.
Alex in 2022

Alex the Great was a Flemish Giant rabbit[3] weighing, as of 2025, 28 pounds (13 kg).[1] He slept in the same bed as his owners and was certified as a therapy rabbit by the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals[1] due to his friendly nature. His favourite food was dried cranberries and he liked filtered tap water.[2]

According to Row and Kroc, Alex enjoyed watching sports on TV, especially NASCAR.[11] When at public events, he would either be driven in a buggy or drive a children's toy car that Josh Row had customized for the rabbit, with a button that allowed the rabbit partial control.[1][2] The car had a license plate reading "ALEX" and a remote allowing a human to control it.[2] In addition to the car, Row also made Alex rabbit-sized hats to wear.[2]

Row named him after Alexander the Great because of how much the attention the rabbit got and because he thought it was funny.[2]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alex the Great.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Southern, Keiran (2025-05-14). "Meet Alex the Great. He's a giant rabbit who drives a car". The Times. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Huge rabbit rescued from kill farm is now therapy bunny, drives mini truck". The Washington Post. 2025-04-18. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Giant rabbit 'Alex the Great' delights social media in his custom Mercedes". NBC News. 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  4. ^ a b c d e McCauley, Janie (2025-07-21). "Beloved ballpark therapy bunny, Alex The Great, has died after complications from cancer". AP News. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  5. ^ a b c Wachtel, Mia (2025-07-22). "How Alex the Great's owners are honoring legacy of 'Rally Rabbit'". San Franciso Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  6. ^ a b Chu, Connie (2025-07-31). "In Memoriam: SF Beloved Bunny Dies". San Francisco News. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  7. ^ "Baseball 2023: Alex the Great (Rabbit) takes his furry bows at San Francisco ballpark". The Mercury News. 2023-04-03. Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  8. ^ Simon, Alex. "San Francisco loses beloved pet". SFGATE. Archived from the original on 2025-07-23. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  9. ^ Alexandra, Rae (2025-07-02). "Alex the Great, the SF Giants' 'Rally Rabbit' Just Threw a First Pitch". Kqed.org. KQED Inc. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  10. ^ a b Valentino, Silas (2022-12-22). "Scared of flying? SFO's new giant rabbit is here to help". SFO Gate. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  11. ^ Shafiq, Saman (2025-04-12). "Alex the Great, a sports-loving therapy rabbit, makes waves again at MLB game". USA Today. ProQuest 3189019193.