PETA seeking its own Hollywood sign

It could be a bad sign for Hollywood meat-eaters.

Leaders of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Thursday that they hope to rent the 1,821-foot Cahuenga Peak next to the Hollywood sign to promote “healthy eating and compassion for animals.”

PETA officials said they want to erect a large sign of their own to the west of the famed landmark that would spell out “Go Veg” in 45-foot-high letters.

“As an animal protection charity, we are unable to afford the $22 million” selling price that a Chicago firm has placed on the 138-acre mountaintop, Lisa Lange, PETA’s senior vice president, wrote the peak’s listing agent, Teles Properties.

“Instead, we are proposing to rent the land from you until it is sold to a permanent buyer.” Teles Properties’ Sarah Blanchard said late Thursday that she had not yet received the rental proposal. However, she said she doubted there would be widespread support for even a temporary alteration of the ridgeline to read “Go Veg Hollywood.”

And Thursday wasn’t the best day to negotiate with PETA in any case, Blanchard said.

“I’m wearing leather pants today,” she explained.

bob.pool@latimes.com