Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has dismissed PETA’s idea regarding Punxsutawney Phil.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals proposed that the iconic groundhog, known for predicting weather, should be allowed to retire and be substituted with a vegan “weather reveal” cake.

In a message to Tom Dunkel, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, the animal rights organization pledged to deliver a vegan cake each year to Punxsutawney Phil’s home at Gobbler’s Knob if Phil and his family could “retire to a reputable sanctuary,” as stated in PETA’s press release.

The innovative “weather reveal” cake is similar to a gender reveal cake; blue inside would mean six more weeks of winter, while pink would suggest an early spring, according to the organization.

Responding to a New York Post article about the proposal, the governor made a post on X saying, “Come and take it.”

Previous Suggestions from PETA for Punxsutawney Phil

This isn’t the first time PETA has called for Punxsutawney Phil to step down. Last year, they suggested replacing him with a giant gold coin, and in 2022, they proposed using persimmon seeds for weather predictions, as reported by KTLA5.

Although PETA may not anticipate their proposals to be accepted, they persist in raising awareness regarding what they consider animal mistreatment. In her letter to Dunkel, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk expressed that “locals and visitors who truly care for Phil want him to live a life that feels natural.”

“If you dislike this idea, the icing on the cake is that we can provide a large thermometer for Gobbler’s Knob instead, indicating, ‘If it’s still cold, it’s still winter,’ which would aptly highlight the absurdity of this outdated spectacle,” she continued. “We always look forward to your response.”

Contributing: Julia Gomez.

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