PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president Tom Dunkel with an interesting request earlier this month.
In the Jan. 21 letter, the animal rights advocates asked: Instead of Punxsutawney Phil making an appearance every Groundhog Day, how about a “Weather Reveal” cake?
If Dunkel agrees to let Punxsutawney Phil retire, PETA stated in its letter that they would have a weather reveal cake to the yearly ceremonies.
The cake would be cut to expose one of two colors: blue, signifying six more weeks of winter, or pink, indicating an early spring, almost like a gender reveal cake.
PETA president Ingrid Newkirk says that these animals are not for entertainment and often try to avoid humans anyways.
“When allowed to be themselves, groundhogs avoid humans, create intricate networks of underground burrows, communicate with one another, and even climb trees, but poor Phil is denied all of that for a tired old gimmick,” said Newkirk.
It’s an interesting offer against a long-standing tradition, but PETA is trying its best to get rid of the groundhog in Groundhog Day.