Written by PETA
With Groundhog Day just a week away, I've got a Bill Murray movie on my mind—but the classic Groundhog Day isn't it. No, I'm thinking of Caddyshack—and the scene-stealing Mr. Gopher—and hoping that the folks in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, take a cue from the humane concept behind that cinematic critter by retiring Phil to a sanctuary and replacing him with an electronic groundhog.
Phil is forced to be on display year round at the local library and is denied the ability to prepare for and enter yearly hibernation (and I have a hard time with "spring forward"). Add to that the displeasure of large, screaming crowds, flashing lights of cameras, and human handling. If Punxsutawney frees Phil, then the bitter winter that's made him into an unwilling media attraction will end, making way for a sunny spring that everyone can enjoy.
Written by Logan Scherer
As stated earlier, Phil is living a better life than in the wild. Someone alluded that groundhogs are not a domesticated animal. Domesticity is trained. Even a dog or cat without training will become feral or wild. I live the majority of time in Mexico. What is notable is the "respect" between man and dogs. Many dogs appear not to have a human habitat. But none become agressive (Try stepping over a sleepin g dog in the US) nor do the populace mistreat the animals..they mainly ignore them. And the animals retreat if confronted when trying to enter a space looking for food. Even at night when the dogs are rooting thru garbage do they become aggresive if you walk near them. We have all read accounts in the US of so called domesticated dogs attacking humans.
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