PETA wants Puxatony Phill Replaced by a Robot.

Now I am all for robots I mean who isn't?  However PETA (People for the Ethically Treatment of Animals) has asked that Puxatony Phil be replaced by an animatronical groundhog.  They state the flash bulbs and hundred's of people (and their noise) cause undue stress on  Phil.

Now I once heard that they actually pull Phil out before the ceremony to drug him.  After all the mayor doesn't want to be bit.

I don't really agree with pulling to poor thing out of his hole and parading him around for people's enjoyment but I find the drugging (if true) a lot more disturbing than the flash bulbs.

They stand by the action claiming tradition - there are plenty of stupid things that were tradition we got rid of, after all segregation was tradition.  I am not comparing Phil to the hardships of African Americans, but pointing out that tradition is not a good reason to do something.

I've never really like the idea of pulling the critter out of his hole, however I don't see them replacing Phil.  If PETA really wants to make their point known they'd be better off with a boycott.   Or finding out more about this alleged drugging.

What are your thoughts?