With just a little more than week left until Groundhogs Day, PETA has turned its sights on saving Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog that serves as an indicator of the length of the remaining winter season. Every February 2, thousands of spectators and reporters gather around Phil's hole in Punxsutawney, PA to find out if he will see his shadow or not. PETA feels this is a cruel way to treat an animal that is shy by nature, and has suggested Phil be retired and replaced with a robotic animal.
Gemma Vaughan, Animals in Entertainment specialist for PETA, explains in a letter to the Groundhogs Day festival organizers:
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“These normally shy animals—who are constantly on alert when they are out of their burrows—become stressed when they are exposed to large, screaming crowds; flashing lights from perhaps hundreds of cameras; and human handling.” Adding, “We think that an animatronic groundhog would similarly mesmerize a crowd full of curious spectators in Punxsutawney.”
As expected, the president of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club disagrees, saying that Phil is "being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania."
What do you think? We can understand why animals should be protected from trauma at all costs, but we can't see why the town would harm an animal that brings them so much publicity each year. Perhaps Phil's life the 364 other days of the year is quite nice. Do you think Phil should be replaced with a robotic groundhog and taken to a sanctuary, or should they leave it alone?
via ecorazzi
