PETA Proposes Robotic Groundhog In Place Of Punxsutawney Phil

An animal rights group wants organizers of Jefferson County's annual Groundhog Day festival to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a robotic stand-in.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it's unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and bright lights that accompany tens of thousands of revelers each Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney.

PETA is suggesting the use of an animatronic model.

William Deeley, president of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, said the animal is "being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania."

The groundhog is kept in a climate-controlled environment and is inspected annually by the state Department of Agriculture.

Deeley said PETA isn't interested in Phil from Feb. 2 on, and is looking for publicity.

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