Tomorrow marks the yearly event of Groundhog Day, the second day in February when we all anticipate if Spring is around the corner. I recently read an article, however, noting that if we discontinue our traditional shadow-spying ways, Spring will, indeed, be on the way.

According to the animal activist group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), by replacing the famous Punxsutawney Phil with an animatronic version “the bitter winter that’s made him into an unwilling media attraction will end, making way for a sunny spring that everyone can enjoy.”

For those not in the know, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow then we have six more weeks of Winter. If he doesn’t, then we have an early Spring. But according to PETA, the robot version will undoubtedly give us the warmer weather most of us desire.

PETA expresses that the famous animal is mistreated, and denied of his yearly hibernation. Instead, he is subject to his loads of fans and constant human handling. And so, PETA penned a letter (PDF) to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club expressing their “exciting, innovative” robot option, but that “tradition is no excuse for cruelty”.

What do you think?

We think that, regardless, the movie Groundhog Day is pretty awesome.

Image courtesy of groundhog.org

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