ADVANCE STAFF REPORT
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Youngsters who took their ripped and torn stuffed animals to the Staten Island Zoo in West Brighton Saturday for its "Teddy Bear Clinic," found themselves joined by the groundhog who predicted an early spring.
Staten Island Chuck, officially known as Charles G. Hogg VII, gnawed on his favorite stuffed animal so much the day of his famous prediction that the toy was disemboweled, the Zoo said in a press release yesterday. But not to worry: Chuck chewed on some peanuts while his toy, Larry the Leopard, was stitched up.
Not that Chuck was getting star treatment, mind you.
The Zoo invited people to bring in their ripped and torn stuffed animals for repair, and the "surgery" was included in the price of admission. And while the stuffed animals were being stitched back together, staff members taught patrons how the very real animals at the Island Zoo are treated should they become sick.
To the delight of crowds of youngsters, Hogg failed to see his shadow on Feb. 2, Groundhog Day, thus auguring an early spring. New York's other groundhog, Long Island's Malverne Mel, also failed to see his shadow, although Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil forecast six more weeks of winter.
Click Here to see a slide show of our Teddy Bear Clinic event that took place in Feb.,2008.
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