Fresno State’s Victor E. Bulldog III set to retire. But first, a farewell tour

Fresno State’s Victor E Bulldog III is preparing for his retirement after seven years as the face of Fresno State teams and its Red Wave fan base.

The beloved English bulldog will commence his ‘Victor E lap’ farewell tour this spring. He’ll turn 7 in March.

Dates for the farewell tour have not been announced yet, but fans of Victor E. can learn more about his tour details by following the bulldog on social media at #VictorELap on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Gina Zante, Fresno State’s live mascot program coordinator, said she was excited about Victor E’s final tour.

“We’re so excited to be able to celebrate and thank Victor E. for his years of service to the University,” said Zante in a statement. “In my role, I’ve had the honor of seeing Victor E.’s impact firsthand, earning his way into the very heart of our Bulldog community. I know we’re going to see a huge outpouring of love for our best pal.”

Victor E. Bulldog III will be replaced by Victor E. Bulldog IV, who will be introduced in the fall. Victor E. will help train his successor, and there will be a passing-of-the-collar ceremony in spring 2023.

Zante and her colleagues in the Fresno State Alumni Association will work closely with a team of professionals, including veterinarian Chris Dobbins of Fresno Pet ER, to identify a successor.

After Victor E retires, he will continue to be cared for by the Fresno State Alumni Association.

The Live Mascot Program is entirely funded by donations from fans and friends of Fresno State.

Victor E’s next community appearance will be at 8 p.m. Friday when Fresno State’s men’s basketball team takes on Nevada at the Save Mart Center. Tickets are $5.

This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 1:38 PM.