PETA, who killed 95 percent of the animals in its care in 2008, has decided that Punxsutawney Phil is being treated horribly and should be replaced with a robot.
No, really:
Last week, PETA sent a letter to Bill Deeley, the president of the Punxsutawney (Pa.) Groundhog Club and presented “an exciting and innovative proposal.” The group wants to replace the legendary Punxsutawney Phil, who predicts the arrival of spring, with a robot.
That’s right, a robotic groundhog. Let’s call it the iHog.
PETA says the club mistreats the real Phil by making him live in captivity, then hauling him out once a year to face bright lights and a crowd of humans. Then there’s all the stress of weather forecasting.
“Tradition is no excuse for cruelty, and this opportunity would allow Punxsutawney to engage in a futuristic, interactive, versatile and humane annual event,” wrote PETA’s Gemma Vaughan.
The letter includes an offer to help the club find a sanctuary for Phil and volunteers to recommend a company that could develop the iHog.
If PETA gets its hands on Phil, he’s as good as dead.
And, because it’s already on YouTube, here’s Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day”:
This should play all ten parts, but if it doesn’t, let me know in the comments.
