December 28, 2008 – The US Navy and various environmental groups (including the Natural Resources Defense Council) settled a lawsuit challenging the use of sonar and its impact on marine life. The deal requires the Navy to continue to research how sonar impacts marine mammals (including whales). This settlement comes after a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of the Navy in another sonar related lawsuit. Read full text of the settlement story here.

December 26, 2008 – A recent policy implemented in Ferris, Texas permits authorities to shoot to kill feral dogs with shotguns with the goal of curbing this 2300-person town’s increasing population of stray dogs, while animal advocates believe that there are better ways to address the problem such as punishing those that dump the dogs in the first place. Read full text of this tragic story here.