Newly Hired Animal Officer Decides Not to Take Top Post

A Sonoma County animal-welfare official hired to rejuvenate the beleaguered Los Angeles Department of Animal Regulation backed out of the job Friday, saying he was worried that the post might be eliminated by Mayor Richard Riordan to cut costs.

Dan C. Knapp called city officials to say he will remain as executive director of the Humane Society of Sonoma County rather than risk the $82,000-a-year general manager’s post here being eliminated.

Riordan Administration officials have discussed consolidating the animal regulation department with the county Department of Animal Care and Control.

The city Animal Regulation Commission announced more than two months ago that Knapp would fill the top job, which has been open for more than 1 1/2 years since the retirement of veteran department chief Robert I. Rush.

The city department has been criticized for taking poor care of impounded animals and for prematurely putting them to death. Voters last April agreed to increase the powers of the Animal Regulation Commission, a move that was supposed to improve care of captured animals.

Knapp was expected to play a key part in the department’s improvement. He was to start Jan. 1, and a City Council committee had authorized $4,500 for moving expenses.

Knapp could not be reached for comment, but Animal Regulation Commission President Mimi Robins said Knapp called Friday to say he would not take the job because he feared Riordan might merge the city and county departments.

Deputy Mayor Mike Keeley said the idea of consolidating the operations is preliminary. “But we think it is the kind of thing that the taxpayers would want us at least to consider to save money,” he said.

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter criticized the mayor’s office, saying that such discussion will make it hard to improve the Animal Regulation Department.

Another official familiar with the possible merger said the change could have been accomplished while guaranteeing Knapp a job.

The official, who asked not to be named, said the threat to Knapp’s new position was blown out of proportion by animal-rights activists who telephoned him. The official added, though, that the Riordan Administration and other city officials could have done more to reassure Knapp.