Animal Groups Seek Groundhog Day Retirement For Malverne Mel

MALVERNE, NY — If animal rights groups have their ways, Malverne Mel won't see his shadow any longer on Groundhog Day.

PETA and Humane Long Island have not forgotten what happened at last year's event when Malverne Mel tried to escape.

The agencies have sent a letter to Malverne Mayor Timothy Sullivan urging Mel to be retired and have a costumed groundhog in his place for the festivities.

"Groundhogs like Mel can’t predict the weather, but they do feel enormous stress when they’re paraded in front of noisy crowds for a photo op,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is calling on Malverne to let Mel walk—as he clearly wants to do—and use only willing humans in future events."

The Humane Long Island's John Di Leonardo, a Malverne native, added: "Groundhogs belong with their families in the forests and fields they call home, not in a cage and certainly not being manhandled for a silly stunt. It’s time to end Malverne’s yearly tradition of tormenting Mel and switch to Groundhog Day festivities that everyone can enjoy."

Aside from someone dressing up as a groundhog, the letter suggests other "excellent ways" for Malverne to celebrate on Feb. 2, such as a "stuffed toy or an animatronic groundhog with artificial intelligence that could actually predict the weather, or hold a contest for the best groundhog costume."

PETA is also blitzing 10 area buses with a pointed message calling on the village to rid itself of the out-of-touch "tradition" and leave groundhogs in peace.