Zoetis announced as principal sponsor of the Animal Medicines Amnesty as RUMA CA&E calls on veterinary practices to get involved again

12 October 2026

The Animal Medicines Amnesty will return this November, with veterinary practices across the UK once again encouraged to take part in the campaign to help owners return unused and out-of-date pet medicines for safe and appropriate disposal. The campaign, run by the Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance – Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA CA&E) and supported by a wide range of cross sector organisations, will again be supported by Zoetis as principal sponsor.

The renewed backing from Zoetis follows a landmark year in 2025 for the initiative, after the campaign successfully transitioned from the Antibiotic Amnesty to the wider Animal Medicines Amnesty. This broader campaign remit encouraged owners to return any unused or out-of-date veterinary medicines to their practice, not just antibiotics, helping to support responsible medicines use, reduce risks linked to misuse, and protect the environment from inappropriate disposal.

Landmark year

The first year under the new Animal Medicines Amnesty title proved a significant success. In 2025, participating practices reported the return of 8,650* medicines overall. This represented a substantial uplift on the previously recorded Antibiotic Amnesty campaign (in which around 2,500 pet medications were returned), demonstrating the broadened reach and impact of the extended campaign. The result represents an important achievement for the profession and one to be proud of, with more than 8,000 unused or out-of-date medicines safely removed from homes and disposed of appropriately. These medicines may otherwise have remained in cupboards, been reused incorrectly, or entered household waste or wastewater systems.

Returned medicines during the 2025 campaign included a wide range of medicine types, from antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones, amoxicillin, other penicillins, cephalosporins, metronidazole and tetracyclines, through to parasiticides, steroids and other commonly prescribed pet medicines.

Important role for veterinary practices

RUMA CA&E says the 2025 results demonstrate a strong and ongoing appetite across the veterinary profession for a medicines stewardship campaign. Veterinary practices also play an important role in educating owners about why unused medicines should not be stored at home, shared, reused without veterinary advice, or disposed of via household waste or wastewater.

Steve Howard, Secretary General of RUMA CA&E, said: “The response to last year’s Animal Medicines Amnesty was extremely encouraging and showed what can be achieved when the profession comes together behind a clear, practical and important message.

“The move from an Antibiotic Amnesty to an Animal Medicines Amnesty was an important evolution. Antibiotics remain a vital part of the campaign and antimicrobial resistance continues to be a major focus, but responsible medicines use is broader than antibiotics alone, for example, we know from recent discussions and debates how important it is that parasiticides are disposed of responsibly. Encouraging the return of all unused or out-of-date veterinary medicines helps protect pets, people and the planet.

“We are delighted to have Zoetis as principal sponsor again this year. Their support helps us amplify the campaign and reach more of the profession. We would strongly encourage veterinary practices of all sizes to get involved this November and help make the 2026 campaign even more impactful.”

Zoetis’ continued support reflects the company’s commitment to responsible medicines use and stewardship across companion animal and equine healthcare. Jonny Lambert, BVetMed MRCVS, CA Veterinary Lead from Zoetis, said: “Zoetis is proud to support the Animal Medicines Amnesty as principal sponsor. The campaign provides a simple but powerful way for practices and pet owners to work together to support the responsible use and disposal of veterinary medicines.

“Every returned medicine is an opportunity to reduce the risk of inappropriate use, safeguard animal health and help protect the environment. We applaud the practices that took part last year and encourage even more of the profession to get behind the campaign this November.”

Gwyn Jones, Chair of RUMA CA&E, said: “The Animal Medicines Amnesty gives practices a simple, visible and highly effective way to lead both responsible medicines use and disposal conversations with clients. We would urge veterinary practices across the UK to get involved again this November, use the campaign resources, brief their teams and help build on the momentum created in 2025. The more practices that take part, the greater the collective impact we can achieve for animal health, public health and the environment.”

Veterinary practices are encouraged to use the campaign as an opportunity to engage the whole practice team, raise awareness with clients, and make it easy for owners to return any unused or out-of-date veterinary medicines for safe disposal.

How veterinary practices can get involved:

The campaign toolkit is available online to support practices and includes posters, social media assets, newsletter copy and practice guidance. Practices are encouraged to download the resources, brief their teams and start planning now so they are ready to support the Amnesty throughout November. Examples of how to get involved include:

Talk to the whole practice team about the Animal Medicines Amnesty and the role everyone can play.
Share campaign messages with clients through newsletters, social media, websites and vaccination booster reminders.
Display campaign posters in waiting rooms and consulting rooms.
Talk to clients during consultations to encourage them to return any unused or out-of-date veterinary medicines to the practice.
Add stickers or reminders to prescription bags and medicine packets where appropriate.
Plan ahead for collecting and recording returned medicines during November. Set aside a dedicated pharmaceutical waste bin for the duration of the campaign so that you can report back on the volume of returned medicines afterwards (details of how to feedback will be issued by RUMA CA&E after the campaign finishes).

Steve Howard added: “The ask of practices is straightforward, but the potential collective impact is considerable. By taking part, practices can help turn conversations about responsible medicines use into tangible action, supporting animal health, public health and environmental protection.”

For more information and to access campaign resources, visit the RUMA CA&E Animal Medicines Amnesty campaign page here.