PETA Wants Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil Robot

The look of love. Punxsutawney Phil photo credit Flickr user SchultzLab.

PETA thinks the Groundhog Club is cruel to Punxsutawney Phil.

As a celeb editor whose hometown is but ten minutes away from famed Groundhog Day king Punxsutawney Phil, PETA's new request is laughable. They want a robot to replace groundhog Phil because of "cruelty" -- but his caretakers reveal that Punxsutawney Phil lives like a king! (Get this: he has a heater in his pen!)

In Central Pennsylvania, it's well known that Punxsutawney Phil lives in the lap of luxury year-round...but apparently the PETA people have yet to make the Punxsutawney pilgramage. The Animals in Entertainment organization has made the following demand to Phil's famed Inner Circle:

"Make the compassionate decision to use an animatronic Phil and retire the live groundhogs who are used for Groundhog Day activities to a sanctuary. Tradition is no excuse for cruelty."

Cruelty?! Ha! The Groundhog Club -- a tuxedo and top hat-sporting group who bond over their sheer love for Punxsutawney Phil and the Groundhog Day tradition -- responded with the following:

"Phil is probably treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania. He's got air conditioning in the summer, his pen is heated in winter ... He has everything but a TV in there. What more do you want?"

This time we think PETA should find more important fish to fry...okay, bad cliche. But read how Kanye West has slammed PETA back back over their criticism of Kanye's love of fur.

Watch for Punxsutawney Phil's annual springtime prediction on Groundhog Day this Tuesday, January 2. If spring is on its way, we've saved you some hunting: here's the fashion look you need to be ready for!

Meanwhile while Punxsutawney Phil is sipping champagne with his feet up, we've learned February may be a big month for another PETA target...read our report on Paris Hilton's upcoming engagement.