Would you give your right arm to know why sharks attack?

[Guest guest]

 

An animal rights group plans to erect a billboard that capitalizes on the

recent shark attack on 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast of Ocean Springs.

 

 

The Web site for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says a billboard

will be erected in Pensacola this week that asks, "Would you give your right arm

to know why sharks attack? Could it be revenge?"

 

 

Dan Shannon of Norfolk, Va., PETA's fishing campaign coordinator, admits the

group's intent is to "capitalize on a news story, which is current right now,

and that is Jessie Arbogast. Obviously our prayers are with him and his family,

and we hope he's doing well."

 

 

But, Shannon said, the group is willing to risk offending people to further

its cause of protecting animals. PETA's mission is to convert the world to

vegetarianism, according to its literature.

 

 

"Our philosophy is that we'd rather go too far than not far enough," Shannon

said. "Sometimes, when it deals with animal cruelty, we have to do some

outlandish things, and we're doing this with everyone in mind."

 

 

The billboard was approved to go up in Pensacola, Shannon said, but the

billboard company, Prime Outdoor, backed out of the contract after considering

the possibility of people being offended. PETA is looking for another billboard

company willing to put up the sign.

 

 

A shark bit off Jessie's right arm, which has been reattached, at a beach

near Pensacola. Because of severe blood loss, he has been in a light coma and

the extent of his recovery is uncertain.

 

 

Claire Arbogast, Jessie's mother, said Wednesday that she has heard of PETA,

but was not aware of the billboard plan.

 

 

"I really don't want to know," she said from her home in Ocean Springs, where

Jessie remains in a light coma. "I think it's best if I just don't pay any

attention to all that. I have enough to do just taking care of what I have to

take care of here."