Six More Weeks of Winter if the Robot Sees His Shadow?

What’s groundhog’s day without the groundhog? PETA envisions a happier life for the groundhog, and says that a robot replacement could do the job just fine. They requested on their blog last week that famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil is retired and replaced with a robotic groundhog.

“If Punxsutawney frees Phil, then the bitter winter that’s made him into an unwilling media attraction will end, making way for a sunny spring that everyone can enjoy,” Logan Scherer wrote on the blog. PETA has been very outspoken about the use of animals as attractions or mascots. In November they asked the University of Georgia to replace their recently deceased bulldog mascot with a robotic one.

In some cases, I understand and agree with PETA’s point. PETA argues especially against the use of big cats and wild animals as mascots, which is a valid point. Certain animals are just too dangerous or not suited to be mascots. But honestly, I think they went too far with this one. PETA doesn’t hesitate to step on tradition, but Groundhog’s Day doesn’t really exist without groundhog day. And really, is Phil’s life all that bad? Obviously, if the groundhog were being abused or neglected, a change in tradition would be necessary.

But Phil has a pretty happy life. William Deeley, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle, which organizes the Groundhog’s Day festival, said the suggestion was crazy, and that Phil is “being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania.” One person commented on PETA’s blog, “He is the most pampered Groundhog on the planet. What groundhog would not want to trade places with him? All other groundhogs… I bet they like getting shot at in farmers’ fields and being road kill. COME ON!”

PETA needs to pick its battles. They do a lot of good things for animals and animal rights, but when they start to get extreme by calling out a traditional festival and a well-treated groundhog. Deeley claimed that PETA was only out for publicity, and that they don’t care about Phil after February 2. If that’s true, PETA’s getting the wrong kind of publicity. It’s harder to take an animal rights group seriously when they are so often ridiculed for going too far. I am all for animal rights, but I don’t think the treatment of Phil is violating any of his rights. I’m sure he’s pretty happy, and he contributes to a thriving festival that brings an economic boost to Punxsutawney and has become a fun part of American tradition. For an organization with as much power as PETA has, I think their focus should be on stopping true animal abuse and neglect.

Comment below and let us know what you think. Did PETA go too far, or does Phil need to be replaced?