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THE REGION
D.C. Zoo, Others Rapped on Elephant Care
An animal rights group has filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Agriculture accusing the National Zoo and five other zoos of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act by keeping elephants in small facilities where limited mobility can cause arthritis and foot infections.
"Elephants in zoos are suffering painfully from arthritis and foot disease, a direct result of inadequate space that restricts movement and forces elephants to stand for years on concrete and other unyielding flooring," said Elliot Katz, a veterinarian and founder of In Defense of Animals.
The group has asked the USDA to require zoos and circuses to provide better living conditions for elephants. It also asked the USDA to take custody of elephants with ailments caused by their confinement.
The American Zoo and Aquarium Association called the petition an effort to generate controversy to try to ban elephants from zoos and to close all zoos.
THE DISTRICT
Weekend Volunteers to Host Foster Kids
District residents ages 12 to 20 who are in foster care will have weekend visits with volunteer families under a new program designed to help older children in foster care find permanent homes.
Kidsave, a national nonprofit based in Los Angeles and the District, yesterday announced its new Weekend Miracles program, which will allow individuals and families in the Washington region to host District youths in foster care for two weekends a month. Kidsave will screen and train the volunteers. Mayor Anthony A. Williams, who was adopted out of foster care as an infant, praised the initiative.
About 57 percent of the roughly 2,700 District children in foster care are 12 or older, according to the Child and Family Services Agency, and by law they remain in foster care until age 21.
For more information, call 202 237-7283 or visit http:/
Social Services Chief to Step Down March 3
Yvonne D. Gilchrist, director of the D.C. Department of Human Services, will leave her post next month after working for 35 years in social services.
Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) appointed Gilchrist in June 2003 to lead the city agency responsible for serving the homeless, parents in need of subsidized child care, the mentally retarded and disabled, and welfare-to-work participants. The agency has five divisions, about 1,600 employees and a 2006 budget of $414.5 million.
