Groundhog Day

PETA proposes robotic groundhog for Pa. festival
Associated Press

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — An animal rights group wants organizers of Pennsylvania’s Groundhog Day festival to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a robotic stand-in.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it’s unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and bright lights that accompany tens of thousands of revelers each Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, a tiny borough about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. PETA is suggesting the use of an animatronic model.

But William Deeley, president of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, says the animal is “being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania.” The groundhog is kept in a climate-controlled environment and is inspected annually by the state Department of Agriculture.

Deeley says PETA isn’t interested in Phil from Feb. 2 on, and is looking for publicity.

PETA just can't allow anyone to have fun, can they? I could understand if Phil was kept in a dank cage for 364 days and then slapped into the ground for a show once a year but I'm sure this creature is pampered daily and fed a diet that would make all other groundhogs jealous. And so what about all the lights and people? Its once a year! This groundhog works less than Mel Kiper and PETA feels he's being mistreated. If Pamela Anderson and her flock of animal lovers want to take this away from us we won't accept a robot. We want Pam to come out of the ground stark naked and see if she sees her shadow. There's a compromise.

P.S. - Phil say his shadow today and we're going to be having a longer winter. Surprise surprise.