The "tortured" Phil is worshipped by tens of thousands of followers. Flickr/SchultzLabs
With Groundhog Day almost upon us, PETA's Animals in Entertainment specialist, Gemma Vaughan, wrote to Groundhog Club president William Deeley last week, asking him to release the most famous of the regional Groundhog Day groundhogs, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil (Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary), from his life of servitude at Gobbler's Knob.
Suggesting that Phil be replaced with an animatronic substitute, Vaughan wrote that the rodent is "forced to be on display year round at the local library and is denied the ability to prepare for and enter yearly hibernation," and that the hubbub probably distresses the humble 'hog, as they are typically shy creatures. Vaughan may be on to something; Phil has actually made several attempts to escape his Punxsutawney home in the last year. Although, to be fair, that may have been related to marital discord between Phil and his wife, Phyllis.
Unsurprisingly, Deeley says no deal. He told the Associated Press that the famous groundhog is "being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania" (which, to be honest, makes us worry about the Keystone State's kids). PETA insists they're not trying to be total buzzkills, though. According to executive vice president Tracy Reiman, an animatronic Phil "would attract new and curious tourists" to Punxsutawney's annual event.
The weird thing is, they also want the movie "Groundhog Day" remade, with a robot replacing Bill Murray. That seems like a bit much, don't you think?
Related Videos
More Cute Stuff
- Lion Love (Daily Squee)
- This Cat Means Business (I Can Has Cheezburger)
- Zebra Tan! (I Has a Hotdog)
- Cat Guys or Dog Guys? (Petside)
- Reducing your Carbon Paw-Print (Discovery)
Sponsored Links
Add your comments
Advertisement
Can't Miss Galleries
Today's Popular Articles
3 Tips for Dining Out With Your Dog- Why Vets Can't Always Smell What You Smell
- Dog Catnaps With Kittens
PETA really has run out of things to do.
I am all for animal rights. I donate every month to the ASPCA and I volunteer my time at a local shelter and I have adopted many stray, homeless animals. This stroy is just over the top. The groundhog must be enjoying his company beceause if he was scared and hated the attention, he simply would NOT come out!!! I think PETA needs to fight a dirrerent battle.
See, PETA is why I advocate "Animal Welfare" instead of "Animal Rights." PETA believes having a pet is animal abuse. They believe animals have equal rights as humans. That animals should have no human contact. They've also stated that even if animal research produced a cure for AIDS, cancer, etc, they would still be against it. They compare pets to mentally disabled children, which is a terrible ignorant thing to say for any parent or caretaker of a disabled person. PETA has a higher kill rate than most shelters. Many well intentioned animal lovers donate their money to PETA without doing their research. Celebrities endorse or even go naked for PETA ads, just to improve their image and continue to mislead the public. PETA is also a leading contributor to Breed Selective Legistlature (banning certain breeds) because thats one step closer to banning all pets. PETA is BAD NEWS
PETA, needs to refocus on their mission.....save the hurt, the hungry and the neglected !
All I can say is, I have loved animals all my life. Even going as far as to try and save the life of the dog that attacked my chiwauwau. But, PETA, this is going a bit too far. Phil is not being harmed and is taken very good care of. Also, bringing attention to what a groundhog is (which a lot of people would not care). Leave this one alone PLEASE. You can do no good if people think you are nuts. Pick and choose your fights, leave this one alone.
PETA would rather all animals be dead than be pets.They are not for animal
rights.They are for animal destruction.They need to be replace with a robot
animal since animals have more heart than they do any way.These actors
also actress & others who support them with over $25 million should gave
money to those who really love animals !
There are shelters,rescue shelters of ever breed,who really love
animal & go out of their way to take care of all kinds of animals.Not just dogs,cat,birds,cows.horses,pigs,& so on. Please Help Them !
PETA is a joke ! Replace them with a robot ! What a horrible thing they
get over $25 million a year to help animals.I would like to really know
were is all this money really going to?
" I do not see any animal life any better because of them.However I see these shelters hurting for space & money to really be there for animals of all kinds ! "
Animals need us to speak up for them since they can not speak for themselves !
How many of our lives have been saved by our animals love for us? Now they need us to be really there for them as we can.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL