Leave the Groundhogs Alone, Says PETA

Photo by ekelly80

Animal rights organization PETA has long been for its inventive and attention-grabbing public campaigns. Locally, it has locked women in cages to protest fur, deployed a large inflatable elephant to advocate against the circus and offered a free vasectomy to any man who neutered his dog.

So it wasn't any surprise when a PETA protester dressed as a raccoon appeared at today's inaugural Groundhog Day celebration in Dupont Circle holding a sign that said, "Buy a crystal ball. Leave Wildlife Alone!" Even though our own Potomac Phil was merely a stuffed groundhog, the group still wanted to make its position known on the country's most famous rodent and the day dedicated to his weather prognostications.

"We know that there are a lot of cities that are unfortunately using live animals in Groundhog Day celebrations or for other celebrations," said senior campaigner Ashley Byrne.

"Too often these animals are living their lives either in very unnatural surroundings, and leading very unpleasant lives only to be brought out once a year and shoved into a loud situation while the animals should be living their lives in peace in as natural a surrounding as possible. There are so many alternatives that can be used for these celebrations...costumes, mascots, the raccoon that we had today in Dupont. There's so many alternatives to using live animals," she added.

Aaron DeNu, who organized today's celebration, seemed sensitive enough to the plight of the groundhog when he learned that their "profound hibernation" lasts until around the second week of February. "The whole thing is we want to do this humanely. We didn't want to go disturb a groundhog's hibernation," he told the Huffington Post. (He also decided against the only thing the National Zoo said he could borrow -- a prairie dog.)

Punxsutawney Phil isn't so lucky, though, and in recent years PETA even went so far as to propose that a robot groundhog be used in his stead to avoid rousing him from his slumber. To fans of the Pennsylvania-based celebration, the whole idea is ridiculous -- after all, what groundhog wouldn't want to be the object of such attention and affection?

Byrne didn't have any complaints about D.C.'s small celebration, but she did say that she'd want to talk to DeNu if he did manage to rustle up a real groundhog for next year.

"I think that if it did look like that was going to happen, we'd probably try and get in touch ahead of time to discuss all the other options that are out there and that are fun and festive, and where everyone is a willing participant," she said.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@dcist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Martin Austermuhle in News on February 2, 2012 4:00 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Jake_Lim

I'd like to give her my ground hog

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Fugitive Vizsla

With big name protesters like PETA our 18th tier Ground Hog Day celebration will bump up to 17th tier before we know it!

MARSupial_possum

So this whole groundhog day is planned? At least PETA brought that into the open. Hence, it's the dudes in top hats who decide if winter is on or off. That blows.

LBSki

That PETA girls looks seriously emotionally distraught over the plight of the stuffed groundhog. I sense she has bigger issues at hand.

ex-14thandYou

She doesn't look distraught, she looks indignant and annoyed. I'm pretty sure she whacked me with her umbrella while zooming up the Metro escalator steps yesterday on her way to her Really Important Job as Assistant to the Community Outreach Specialist at PETA.

ms_last_minute

Let's just say, if you opt out of the cross-posts, you are in good hands. If not, you've most likely already been offended by the giant picture of two elephants boning.*

*Animal (s)exploitation!

Guest

I see it turned you on too.

Qwerkie

Phil just needs to bring the fury and bite a bitch. I know when I'm woken up out of a good sleep I'm mad as hell. He needs to take the first finger he can get his chompers around and clench tight. Then Phil would finally get some respect.

sat3911

I think this needs to go a bit further. It shouldnt' be up to Phil to bring the fury. The finger should be offered like a sacrifice. If Phil draws blood, six more weeks of winter because he didn't want to be woken up. If Phil kicks back with a beer instead, spring has arrived already and you have finally learned to have Groundhog Day in May so your finger doesn't get chewed off.

Eckingtonite

I see no difference between PETA and evangelical Christians. They each have a moral worldview that they want imposed on everyone else at any cost. Not interested. I'll order the veal on my next date.

IMGoph

...and i'll do the polar opposite of a christian thing to people. planning a killing spree. yay freedom of choice!

Guest

Sure PETA, but next big-ass snowstorm and you will be the first to scream "why weren't we warned" as you drag the girls in cages inside.

D_Rez

"But a crystal ball. Leave Wildlife Alone!"
Why would I want to "but" a crystal ball? It sounds vaguely painful.

D_Rez

Oh, fine. Correct the typo. Kill my joke.

DCTransplant

I've got your Groundhog Day right heaaaaaaar!

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.c...

Mr. T in DC

"Too often these animals are living their lives either in very unnatural surroundings, and leading very unpleasant lives only to be brought out once a year and shoved into a loud situation while the animals should be living their lives in peace in as natural a surrounding as possible. There are so many alternatives that can be used for these celebrations...costumes, mascots, the raccoon that we had today in Dupont."

Have to say I agree. It's a stupid, pseudo-meteorological tradition, and if I were a groundhog, I wouldn't want to be kept in captivity to be a prop once a year. PETA can frequently be abrasive and over-the-top in their advocacy, but deep down, I have a feeling that they're right.

Bossi

How can they be over-the-top if they are often topless?

CJ_Scudworth

It helps when they just have someone holding a sign in a cute costume, and don't lock girls in cages* or compare things to the Holocaust.

*Who am I kidding, that one was worth it for the DCist meme alone.