It was just a few days ago that the animal rights group PETA suggested that the organizers of P-A's Groundhog Day festival replace Punxsutawney Phil with a robotic stand-in.
PETA 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 year on February second.
A lot of mid-staters feel that PETA is way, way off on this one. Way off.
We talked with people in downtown Harrisburg to get their reaction. "I know someone that has gone up and what is it? Thirty seconds that they take him out," said Diana Berry of Carlisle. "He looks fine."
Kathy Sitler of Dover says "The groundhog itself is warm and comfortable. It's in a secluded area. It's well fed and now they want to do a robot."
The WHTM Talkback forum was loaded with comments blasting PETA. This from G-Hart in Harrisburg--"Are they serious? This has been an american tradition since who knows when and they want to try to change it. PETA needs to focus on the people and groups that run dog-fighting rings, cockfights, etc. It sounds like a publicity stunt to me."
And there was this thought from Dagney in Marysville--"the animal rights group says its unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and brights lights. Yeah, they are so much cuter when they are squished in the middle of the road."
Midstaters Blast PETA for Wanting Robotic Groundhog|abc27 News
PETA 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 year on February second.
A lot of mid-staters feel that PETA is way, way off on this one. Way off.
We talked with people in downtown Harrisburg to get their reaction. "I know someone that has gone up and what is it? Thirty seconds that they take him out," said Diana Berry of Carlisle. "He looks fine."
Kathy Sitler of Dover says "The groundhog itself is warm and comfortable. It's in a secluded area. It's well fed and now they want to do a robot."
The WHTM Talkback forum was loaded with comments blasting PETA. This from G-Hart in Harrisburg--"Are they serious? This has been an american tradition since who knows when and they want to try to change it. PETA needs to focus on the people and groups that run dog-fighting rings, cockfights, etc. It sounds like a publicity stunt to me."
And there was this thought from Dagney in Marysville--"the animal rights group says its unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and brights lights. Yeah, they are so much cuter when they are squished in the middle of the road."
Midstaters Blast PETA for Wanting Robotic Groundhog|abc27 News
