So, I’ve been um-ing and ah-ing as to whether to write anything down, let alone post it on my blog page. It’s a sensitive subject for me, that not everyone out there will understand. It will likely come out in a mish mash with little structure, as the words just come out.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am animal obsessed and how much I love my pets and that I don’t want children. I’ve lost many pets over the years, having been around animals since the day I was born, and losing one is never easy – but these have been expected due to old age or having some form of control over their last breath by opting for euthanasia in the event of illness, so grieving and coping with their loss has been easier to deal with. But losing an animal unexpectedly and not having any closure as to what has happened, has got to be one of the worst things I have ever experienced……

3^rd October 2019 – my girl went out early evening and never returned…..

Even just typing the above sentence has turned me into a teary mess……

It’s hard to put into words what Leah means to me. She has been in my life for around 9 years, having been adopted by myself and my family as a companion for our other cat, George, at the time, from Cats Protection. Over the years, the 2 became my sole companions when I lived alone for several months forming even closer bonds. Sadly, I subsequently lost George to cancer, which was heartbreaking, especially as he was taken too soon. I toyed with the idea of another cat, but Leah seemed to be managing on her own as she formed an even closer bond with myself. We effectively became inseparable and she became a proper mommy’s girl.

She became my best friend, my pal to turn to for comfort on crappy days where I just needed cuddles (animals really are the best therapy) and some unconditional love. Yes, I have other pets and they provide me with comfort too, but the bond isn’t quite the same.

So to have Leah diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in September 2019, was a shock and it stressed me out big time. A condition like this will shorten an animals lifespan, which is heartbreaking in itself.

She visited the vet due to breathing issues and underwent scans to find that she has a rare heart condition seen in cats. She began treatment shortly after (looking like a proper cat junkie with all the tablets) and her breathing began to improve over the next few weeks and she was much happier in herself, as her heart began pumping more efficiently. Whilst treatment was expensive, I was just so relieved that it would help.

On the 3^rd Oct, she asked to go in the garden around 7:30pm as she usually does. She never ventures too far, and always returns when called. But when she hadn’t come back in by the time I went to bed around 10pm, I began to worry (I always worry if any cat is out overnight, even though they were always fine) – she would only usually stay out on the odd occasion over the summer months, and would always be there the following morning waiting to come in. But the following morning she wasn’t there. I instantly headed out and checked the nearby roads full of anxiety, in the event she had ventured further than usually and she had been hit by a car – no sign of her, which I was relieved about but I remained extremely concerned and confused.

Over the next few days, despite constantly calling for her and roaming the local streets with friends (their help means so much to me), there was still no sign. I registered her missing with the microchip company, all the local vets and numerous animal organisations and lost & found pages, appealed on social media and put a ridiculous amount of posters up in the local streets, as well is in my house and car windows. Whilst I have received calls and messages regarding potential sightings, which I am extremely grateful for, I have not found her.

My mood as a result was extremely low over the first few weeks, I would regularly sit in tears after my other half went to bed, as I didn’t want him to see me in that state. Alcohol became a coping mechanism and my focus and concentration were utter shit to be frank, resulting in a lack of motivation to want to do anything. A big part of me had gone. But I forced myself to put on a happy(ish) face and talk to similar minded friends to get things out. Whilst my other half knows I have a large emotional attachment to my animals, he doesn’t fully understand it.

It’s now 3 months on and there is still no sign. I have been told to accept the fact the has gone and that I likely won’t get any answers, and that she has gone off to die. But this isn’t something I can do and her going off to die isn’t something I believe, given our strong bond and how well I know her behaviour.

How can she just disappear into thin air? If she had gone off to die, she would have done so nearby and I would have found her, or my neighbours would have found her. It’s as simple as that. She was absolutely fine in herself when she went out that night and showed no signs of giving up. I think either someone has harmed her (god help them if this turns out to be true) or she has got disorientated due to her medication, ventured further than usual and became lost. It’s possible that someone has taken her in and she is being well looked after, and for whatever reason, she either hasn’t been scanned for a microchip or her microchip has failed.

I have to believe she is still out there somewhere, as she has not yet been found (alive or deceased) and keep hope that one day we will be reunited. People have lost their pets and been reunited many years later, so why should I not hold on to hope? Giving up on her is not an option for me – you wouldn’t give up on your children, so why should I give up on an animal that is as equally important to me? Especially when I am riddled with guilt for letting her out that night?

I am gradually adjusting to life without her around, but I am still filled with sadness and find not having a cat in the house extremely odd, as this is unfamiliar territory for me. I will continue to keep my eyes out in the streets, I will keep her registered as missing until she is found and I will continue to scour social media, rescue sites and selling sites, in the event that someone somewhere has her and is trying to re home her or simply trying to make a few bob.

She isn’t just a cat. She is a unique, individual character in a furry body, that gives me so much. She is equally as important as a friend or family member. And she is sorely missed.

Animal Defenders International defines bloodsport as “the name given to practices such as hunting, fishing, hare coursing, badger baiting and animal fights (cockfighting, dog fighting, etc.), which either cause bloodshed or result in the death of an animal(s) for ‘sport’…. We as humans have no right to inflict cruelty upon each other and our treatment towards animals should be no different. Suffering is suffering and killing an animal for sport is deliberate cruelty at its worst”.

For the life of me, I cannot understand what anyone can gain from deliberately inflicting pain and cruelty onto another living species for fun. What baffles me even more is that in today’s 21^st century society, where we know that animals feel pain and emotion, various bloodsports are still occurring legally and illegally.

There are several topics I could explore here – bull fighting/running of the bulls, dog & cock fighting, badger baiting, hare coursing, game shooting and so forth, but I would literally be here all day, so I have opted for one main topic of focus. However, I will say that all of these are abhorrent and completely unnecessary.

When it comes to bloodsport, fox hunting is one of the biggest issues affecting UK wildlife, despite the fact that hunting foxes with hounds was made illegal in 2005 (simulating scent trails for the hounds to follow is legal, however this is regularly used as a cover for actual hunting).

Sadly, the individuals involved (typically those of a wealthy and political background, as well as members of the royal family) see this as a ‘tradition’ and will either blatantly ignore the ban or find loopholes to continue to hunt foxes – for example, it is legal to use 2 hounds to flush out a fox that is causing property damage (the fox must be shot quickly after it is found) (GOV.UK, 2019) – a scenario that can easily be abused. Hunts in England and Wales also use ‘exemptions’ in the Hunting Act. These were designed to allow certain types of ‘pest’ control or scientific research, but are being exploited by the hunts to give them an excuse to carry on hunting (League Against Cruel Sports, 2019). Unfortunately many foxes are not even given the basic decency of a quick, humane death.

Keele University’s blog, dated January 31^st 2019 makes an interesting read regarding several loopholes that are exploited and identified that 21 foxes have been killed by the hunt and 151 incidents of illegal hunting have been reported since the season began on November 1 (Murphy, A. 2019). At this rate, this would equate to at least 60-70 fixes being killed during the season (typically runs November – April) and around 450 incidents of illegal hunting occuring. However, it should be noted that not all hunts will have been reported, therefore the death could well be higher.

My view is that simulating a trail is obviously not satisfying for participants and that sadistic pleasure is clearly taken from seeing a defenceless animal being ripped apart in cold blood. You can head to https://psrefoxhunting.weebly.com/whos-against-fox-hunting.html to view an undercover video following an investigation into fox hunting by the RSPCA, however this is not for the faint hearted. Foxes are also taken from the wild and used to breed more for hound training, with some subsequently being deliberately released for a hunt.

For those foxes that have managed to evade a hunt, or have been rescued by hunt sabateours/rescue centres, horrific injuries are usually present. Gunshot wounds, as well as snare injuries, are typically seen and most cases require euthanasia if these will cause long term debilitation (Mullineaux, E. et al. 2003). Bite wounds from hounds are also regularly seen, which can be seen in the image below. This therefore decreases our fox population further – whilst foxes are generally seen more so in urban areas nowadays (due to our persecution of them in the countryside), the Breeding Bird Survey suggests a drop of 41% since 1995 (Guardian News, 2018).

Sadly, the foxes are not the only ones that suffer. Once hunt dogs have entered a pack they are culled if they fail to thrive as pack animals, if they become ill and unable to keep up with the pack, when they become too old to hunt with the pack, or when they become surplus to hunt requirements. The average hunt dog lives much less than the normal life expectancy for a dog of the breed. (League Against Cruel Sports, 2019).

Whilst in power, both David Cameron and Theresa May intended to repeal The Hunting Act 2004, despite the fact that around 80% of the public are against hunting (RSPCA, 2019). Figures are also similar for deer hunting, hare coursing and badger baiting.

There are many charities and organisations out there that fight to protect our wildlife – League Against Cruel Sports are a big player in this, as well as the many individuals forming saboteur groups. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the people that do this, as they are potentially risking their lives – there have been many incidents in the news where saboteurs have been abused and injured by hunters, when they are simply doing the right thing and trying defend innocent lives. There are many videos available on YouTube filmed by saboteurs trying to help – they are harrowing and upsetting to watch, but they show the blatant ignorance and disrespect of the hunters involved and the brutality of the hunt itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5_iDG1PwAc – individuals rescue fox from hounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsAJo1-191o – BBC3 documentary about saboteurs.

Why should any animal be treated in this manner, and why should people have to risk their own lives to protect them? The world we live in is a backwards place – as far as I’m concerned, a life is a life regardless of species, and the animals we share this planet with deserve to live their life free from human abuse.

Whilst organisations and individuals like this can help saves lives, ultimately the problem lies in the upper hierarchy of the wealthy, political groups and the law itself. Because of their backgrounds, their actions are accepted and/or ignored, and prosecutions are few and far between and conviction rates have dropped to 42% since the Hunting Act came into force in 2005, dropping from 54% in 2016 (Dixon, H. 2018). The Hunting Act is also not straightforward, the previously mentioned loopholes mean that there is not always sufficient evidence to lead to prosecution, which is highly frustrating! Ultimately, the public must continue to push the government to listen and amend laws to protect our wildlife more efficiently. But until this happens, we must continue to play our own part in helping others.

References

Animal Defenders International (2019). What are bloodsports? http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=113&ssi=8″ssi=8 [Cited 17.06.2019].

Dixon, H. (2018). Hunting conviction rates fall to all time low as campaigners say act is ‘in tatters’. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/10/hunting-conviction-rates-fall-time-low-campaigners-say-act-tatters/ [Cited 06.08.2019].

GOV. UK (2019). Hunting and shooting wildlife. https://www.gov.uk/hunting/mammals [Cited 17.06.2019].

Guardian News & Media Ltd (2018). Is Britain’s fox population desperate for Chris Packham’s roadkill ?https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2018/may/22/britain-fox-population-chris-packham-roadkill-numbers-decline [Cited 27.06.2019].

League Against Cruel Sports (2019). Fox Hunting. https://www.league.org.uk/fox-hunting [Cited 06.08.2019].

Murphy, A. (2019). No wonder fox hunting is still prevalent — the ban is designed to fail British wildlife. https://blogs.keele.ac.uk/no-wonder-fox-hunting-is-still-prevalent-the-ban-is-designed-to-fail-british-wildlife-944cfc309e2c [Cited 17.06.2019]

PSRE (no date). Fox hunting. https://psrefoxhunting.weebly.com/whos-against-fox-hunting.html [Cited 27.06.2019].

RSPCA (2019). Fox Hunting – keep the ban. https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/hunting [Cited 27.06.2019].

As an animal worker and lover, pet obesity is one of my biggest pet peeves. I see it all too often in animals at work and those I see on the street. It is becoming routinely more common in a variety of pet species, although predominantly in cats, dogs and more recently rabbits– but there really is no reason for it to be happening.

Sadly, the pet obesity crisis is typically due to owner ignorance, whether this be through a lack of knowledge or simply not seeing it as an issue (55% of dog owners do not realise their pet is overweight/obese (PDSA, 2018)). But this baffles me, as there are so many sources of information out there to promote responsible pet ownership – ie. veterinary practices and other animal care establishments, educational books and the internet (although there is a profound amount of incorrect advice that can be found on the internet, so it is vital to go to reputable organisation websites such as PDSA, RSPCA, Cats Protection etc).

Since 2011, the PDSA have undertaken an annual pet welfare report, which surveys veterinary professionals and pet owners. Below are a few of their findings in their most recent report, which frankly, are quite shocking.

PDSA PAW REPORT 2018 FINDINGS:

DOGS

• 40% of dog owners don’t know their pet’s current weight or body condition score.
• 1.4 million dogs (16%) are walked less than once a day, and 89,000 are never walked at all (1%).
• 91% of owners give treats to their dog – this is higher than both cat (81%) and rabbit (83%) owners.
• 46% of dogs seen in veterinary practices each week are overweight or obese, with 47% of these having health issues that could be related to their weight.

CATS

• 65% of cat owners don’t know their pet’s current weight and/or body condition score.
• 53% of cat owners matched images of Body Condition Score 4 (overweight) or 5 (obese) to their cat’s current body shape.
• 34% of cats seen in veterinary practices each week are overweight/obese, with 35% of these have health issues that could be related to their weight.

RABBITS

• 77% of rabbit owners don’t know their pet’s current weight and / or body condition score.
• Just 10% of owners described their rabbit as overweight, however, 26% chose a picture of an overweight rabbit as the picture that best illustrated their pet’s shape.
• 30% of rabbits seen in veterinary practices each week are overweight/obese, with 36% of these have health issues that could be related to their weight.

Given that research conducted in the late 1980’s and 1990’s found that 25% of cats and dogs were overweight, there has been a significant increase (Kelly, N. et al. 1996).

The main issues are an inadequate/inappropriate diet and a lack of exercise, despite there being so many more options for food and exercise routines nowadays. Having worked in a pet shop, I have seen first hand how many pet owners do not know what is in their pets food – they do not look at the analytical constituents or nutritional facts for their chosen food brand, regularly going for the cheaper, most commercial brand which are full of fat and additives, and contain very little actual meat. Yes, I agree that some high end, high quality foods such as Orijen for example, can be very expensive, and therefore is not financially viable for all pet owners (I myself would struggle to afford this for my cat), however there are affordable good quality foods out there – Iams, James Wellbeloved, Canagan, Carnilove, Harringtons, Applaws, Meowing/Barking Heads to name a few, for cats/dogs and Burgess pellets (highly recommended by vets and myself – museli is never a good idea!) for rabbits (however, plentiful hay and fresh fruit/veg should always be fed along side a pellet diet).

Once on a good quality food, the recommended feeding instructions should be followed, depending on the type, breed and weight of the animal – target and maintenance weight should be considered if the animal is on a diet. Dogs should be walked regularly each day (the number of walks and walk time length differs due to the breed and activity levels of the dog, and any health issues should be taken into consideration). The minimum recommendation is 2 x 15 min walks a day (Miller, R. 2012). Cats should have some playtime with owners each day and ideally be given outdoor access for further exercise. Rabbits should always be given opportunities each day either to indoor or outdoor areas, outside of their hutch/cage – the recommended time being a minimum of 4 hours a day (Pets At Home, 2019). However, this isn’t always possible due to work commitments and bad weather, therefore large cages and hutches are best so they have plenty of room to move freely if they are unable to come out. Any pet treats should be given in moderation and inappropriate human food should ideally be avoided (for example, chocolate for cats and dogs and foxgloves for rabbits – these can be toxic, as well as fattening).

As we all know, obesity causes various health problems in humans and the same can be said for our pets. Pressure on joints and organs can cause some serious issues, some of which can be life threatening. Aspinall, V. (2006), notes the most common disorders as:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Constipation
• Joint disease
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Breathing problems
• Exercise intolerance
• Feline lower urinary tract disease.

Joint issues may require surgery for joint arthroscopies and replacements, which can be a risk in themselves. Dental disease can also be an issue if fed on an inappropriate high sugar diet.

As a nation of animal lovers, do we really think that this acceptable? The Five Freedoms state that animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease (RSPCA, 2019). We need to remember that our pets have different physiologies and nutritional requirements to us, and that we are effectively giving them an early death sentence. Personally, I feel it is vital to conduct research before taking on any animal to ensure that their welfare needs are met and that appropriate diets are given – perhaps potential owners should have to undertake a basic animal care course? Regardless of whether any readers agree with me or not on that front, I’m sure that you can all agree that our animals deserve to live happy and healthy lives and that we are responsible for that.

References

Aspinall, V. (2006) The Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing. Elsevier Limited, Spain.

Kelly, M. et al (1996). Manual of Companion Animal Nutrition & Feeding. BSAVA, Gloucestershire.

Miller, R. (2012). How Often Should One Walk Their Dog? https://www.dogingtonpost.com/how-often-should-one-walk-their-dog/ [Cited 10.05.2019].

PDSA (2018). PDSA (PAW) Animal Wellbeing Report. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/media/4372/paw-2018-full-web-ready-a4-printable.pdf [Cited 05.05.2019].

Pets At Home (2019). Rabbit Hutches and Runs. https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/small-pet/rabbit/rabbit-hutches-cages-and-runs/maple-manor-hutch-for-rabbits-and-guinea-pigs [Cited 10.05.2019].

Royal Canin (2018). Body Condition Scoring. https://www.thehealthypetclub.co.uk/body- condition-scoring/ [Cited 10.05.2019].

RSPCA (2019). Animal Welfare Act. https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareact [Cited 10.05.2019].

The Rabbit House (no date). Monitoring Your Rabbit’s Weight. http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/rabbit-weight.asp

[cited 10.05.2019]

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So, I am starting my blogging with the above issue. This is one of the biggest issues right now, and I felt it was a good subject to start with. Thank you for taking the time to have a read.

Plastic pollution. We’ve all heard about it in the news headlines recently, despite the fact that this has in fact been going on for decades. However, the airing of TV serious Blue Planet II last summer has pushed the issue into the limelight and highlighted the severity of the situation to a wider audience. Whilst plastic has so many uses and a lot of versatility, it is also a major player in destroying our planet. There is a myth that plastic will eventually degrade over time, but the truth is is that it never degrades. It simply breaks down into smaller pieces, known as micro plastics and will remain on the planet forever.

I am currently in the process of reading ‘Turning The Tide On Plastic’ (Siegle, L. 2018), which has spurred me into writing this blog. Whilst a highly informative and interesting reading, Siegle, L. highlights the intensity of nature’s destruction via plastic with some terrifying facts – 320 million tonnes of plastic is mass-produced each year, with some 8 million tonnes of this entering our waterways and oceans. Highly alarming. As a result, marine life faces another struggle, as well as being subjected other human caused issues such as whaling, the shark fin trade, overfishing for example.

A few examples:

• All kinds of plastic waste are being found in the digestive systems of many species of marine animals – the issue being that the bags and other items are being mistaken for prey items such as squid and jellyfish, or used as play items by social animals. And yes, that plastic bag blowing down the street or that balloon you carelessly let off into the air, will eventually get blown out to sea! Recently, a pregnant deceased sperm whale washed up in Sardinia, Italy, which was found to have 50lbs of plastic in her digestive system. This resulted in nutrition from her food not being able to enter her bloodstream, which as a result killed her unborn calf, as well as herself (Borunda, A. 2019). Ask yourself, how much more can already endangered populations take?
• Nylon fishing nets result in a large amount of bycatch as it is, but it also causes unnecessary, slow deaths for wide range of animals that become entangled in discarded netting – more than 650,000 are killed or injured each year (Alberts, E. 2018). Plastic debris is also destroying coral reefs, which in turn means habitat loss for other species. How can this be justified?
• Microplastics are also being found within the bodies of all marine wildlife, including plankton. As a result, plastic moves up the food chain, eventually ending up on our plates. Does that not cause worry?

So what can be done?

Recycling is the most obvious choice, and I of course recycle what I can at home – however, recycling labels found on packaging can be confusing and misleading, meaning that we are unsure as to what can actually be recycled. Local authorities should be able to provide a guide to this, (head to www.recyclenow.com for a guide and figures on recycling), however The Open University has recently produced a free publication in collaboration with the BBC’s Our Blue Planet, which provides a good guide on what types of plastic there are and what can be recycled (although frustratingly, this was delivered in a single use plastic wrapper). However, sadly, only a small percent of our global plastic is actually recycled and ultimately, whilst we can play our parts at home, it is down to the plastic manufacturers and waste companies to do more to recycle and reduce plastic – unfortunately, money plays a large part in this. It is actually cheaper to produce new plastic items, rather than recycle them (this as a result puts more demand on the need for oil, therefore increasing the amount of fracking sites, which means more habitat destruction).

So what can we do to reduce our plastic use at home?

Below, I have contained a few examples of what I have done so far to reduce my plastic footprint, and what I am also working towards.

Food wraps – ditch the food bag and opt for food wraps. These are cotton sheets coated in beeswax, which warm up in your hands and stick to themselves. They can be used up to 150 times and simply need a wipe with warm, soapy water to keep them clean. I paid approx. £15 for a pack of 6 via eBay – which actually also works out cheaper in the long run. Otherwise, opt for foil to wrap food instead of cling film (hate the stuff!), as this can be recycled.

Toothbrushes – bamboo toothbrushes are a great alternative. Not only is the whole toothbrush biodegradable (the bristles are BPA free, so will degrade), they are also great for sensitive teeth. I paid around £8 for a pack for 4, which works out around the same price yearly as plastic toothbrushes (on the basis you replace your toothbrush every 3 months).

Sanitary care – silicone cups are a great idea, as they are resuable, last for several years and also work out good value for money in the long run (usually around £20 – £25 each). However, some individuals are unable to use these. I made the change from Bodyform pads, to Eco by Naty pads, as they are made from cotton and contained to no plastic or chlorine. However, annoyingly, the pads were still individually wrapped in plastic. I have since discovered Flo and TOTM – both provide organic cotton pads and tampons, with biodegradable packaging which are delivered to your door. They are a little more expensive (my subscription to Flo is £10 a months for 30 pads, but this can be cancelled/amended at any time), however surely paying a little extra is worth it for the planet.

Cleaning products – there are now cleaning products out there that are concentrated, and can be diluted down into your existing spray bottles. This means there is no need to keep being a new bottle each time you run out, therefore reducing the amount of individual plastic disinfectant bottles you purchase. Prices vary depending on the product, so the best thing would be to have a look around for one that suits your needs. I am in the process of phasing out my current products with the intention to replace them in this way.

I also try to opt for products with recyclable plastic (if the product is not available in biodegradable packaging) or look for items in paper packaging (ie fruit & veg – your local market or greengrocer is the best option for this). I also use canvas bags for any shopping (I leave some in the car) and try to reuse any plastic carrier bags as many times as possible, or use them as bin bags in my smaller household bins (away to avoid buying extra plastic bin bags, however some supermarkets do actually sell compostable bin caddy liners – I found some in Aldi).

Plastic straws – these are the bane of my life, I can’t stand them and try to avoid them at all costs. Most pubs and restaurants etc are now providing paper straws (yay!), however those that don’t do not usually provide straws automatically with drinks, the customer must request one. Acrylic straws, although a type of plastic, can be used instead as they last a lot longer and will reduce the amount of plastic straws you use, although metal straws are now becoming more popular and easier to obtain (just remember to keep them on you). Reusable bottles/coffee cups or Thermos’ are also a good option – whilst again, some are made from plastic, they can too have many uses.

There are of course other options out there, but I could be here all day. The best thing to do is do your research online, do some book reading and seek information from your local recycling authority.

I will always urge people to do what they can to help the planet and try not to regularly pick personal convenience over the environment. Whilst I appreciate that many people do have to buy items on a budget (as someone who does not earn a big wage, I can completely understand this), however I feel that the world we live in is of great importance, and we must look after it – after all, we wouldn’t be here without it.

References

Alberts, E. (2018). https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/ocean-animals-dying-in-lost-fishing-gear [Cited 05.04.2019].

Borunda, A. (2019). https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/04/dead-pregnant-whale-plastic-italy/ [Cited 05.04.2019].

Siegle, L. (2018). Turning The Tide On Plastic: How Humanity (And You) Can Make Our Globe Clean Again. The Orion Publishing Group Ltd, London.

RecycleNow (2019). https://www.recyclenow.com/plastic-planet?gclid=CjwKCAjw-ZvlBRBbEiwANw9UWlfBFQfI6zHj2wnnCrTJA2TENoWv0HMcgUqMdSVQX8JPz6pq6iaq3xoCMkwQAvD_BwE [Cited 05.04.2019].

World Wildlife Fund (2018). https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/plastics-why-we-must-act-now?ds_rl=1263542&pc=ASF001002&ds_rl=1263542&gclid=CjwKCAjw-ZvlBRBbEiwANw9UWiWFoLWLNMAVFoLoPestzqheiCMf50ARJvPFB-LJ5Pi6eqZc__QAQxoCy7AQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds [Cited 05.04.2019].

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton