NEUTERING CONFERENCE POSTPONED.

Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer

What promised to be a fiery showdown at a North Hills library between those for and against a city-proposed mandatory pet sterilization law was over before it started Wednesday when the public hearing was adjourned because an estimated 300 people overflowed the facility, causing a fire hazard.

The postponed public hearing was the third in a series of six scheduled by the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services to get input on a law that would charge cat and dog owners up to $300 if they choose not to fix their pets.

``The language in this draft ordinance is far from being final, and will take into consideration all the public comments,'' said Animal Services General Manager Dan Knapp.

He said the city chose the 150-capacity conference room at the Mid Valley Regional Library because it was the only facility available, and because the city didn't expect such a large turnout, with only about 100 residents showing up at the two previous meetings.

Outside the library, some frustrated and emotional residents exchanged heated words for and against the proposed law.

``This is typical of the city's bureaucratic mess,'' said Laurie Benink, a local resident. ``Something needs to be done about this problem. I think the owners of unsterilized pets should be sterilized themselves.''

Laurie Sanna, who participates in dog shows, said she and others who breed dogs would be unfairly targeted under the proposed law because they would have to pay $300 for each dog they own.

Overall, the crowd at the hearing was split about evenly for and against the proposed law.

Wednesday's meeting likely will be rescheduled at a bigger venue in September, he said, and the next planned meeting is set for Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at an East Valley site yet to be announced.