The Animal Medicines Amnesty Campaign
The veterinary profession is coming together again this November to hold an Animal Medicines Amnesty (formerly known as the Antibiotic Amnesty). The aim is to encourage pet owners to return any unused or out-of-date veterinary medicines to veterinary practices. This will allow for correct and safe disposal of these medications, which will avoid contamination of the environment and help prevent medicines resistance due to inappropriate disposal. This year the campaign is once again brought to you by RUMA Companion Animal and Equine and the Principle Sponsor is, Zoetis. To go directly to the veterinary practice Animal Medicines Amnesty campaign toolkit which has all the resources you need to take part click here.
What is the issue?
Veterinary medicines are essential to treat many conditions in pets. But they must be used carefully, to ensure they are effective when pet patients really need them.
If pet medicines are not used responsibly, it can result in dangerous side effects, delay an accurate diagnosis, and contribute to medicines resistance for example, antimicrobial resistance or parasiticide resistance. In addition, inappropriate disposal of unused or out-of-date pet medicines, can damage the environment, impacting water quality and wildlife.
The Animal Medicines Amnesty sees the UK veterinary community working together to help recover unused and out-of-date veterinary medicines from pet owners right across the UK to protect people, pets and the environment.
What can you do in your vet practice?
- Talk about the Animal Medicines Amnesty with your practice team and share the information in the resources below to engage the whole practice team in the purpose of the campaign and the role they can play
- Have conversations with clients and contact them as appropriate to encourage them to return any unused or out-of-date pet medications for safe disposal and explain to them why this is important
- Display the campaign poster/s in waiting and consulting rooms (available to download in the toolkit below)
- Share the campaign social media posts and graphics on your practice’s social media channels/website
- Add stickers to packets of tablets or prescription bags to encourage them to be returned
- Modify vaccination booster reminders to include a mention of this initiative
- Include details of the amnesty in client newsletters during October and November
After the Animal Medicines Amnesty
- Record the volume/number of animal medicines returned to your practice during November
- Feedback the amount of returned antibiotics (a link to do this will be added soon)
Please use this campaign hashtag in your communications
#AnimalMedicinesAmnesty
Campaign toolkit and resources for veterinary practices
Campaign poster
Animal Medicines Amnesty Poster
Summary documents for vet teams
Guidance for Vet Practices - step by step guide to taking part in the Anima Medicines Amnesty
Summary document to give to clients
Amnesty client information sheet
Article for practice newsletters
Amnesty copy for practice newsletters
A One Health Approach for tackling AMR
Our colleagues in human healthcare are also involved in the Amnesty. Pharmacies across the UK are being encouraged to take part to encourage people to return their own unused or out-of-date medication prescribed by their doctor to their local participating pharmacy.
For more information visit: Antibiotic Amnesty (rpharms.com)
Case Studies from previous Amnesty campaigns
Wilbury Vets, Hove – overall winner of the Antibiotic Amnesty 2023
Willows Veterinary Centre, Solihull – Antibiotic Amnesty 2023 Runner Up
Rosemullion Vets – 2023 Antibiotic Amnesty - Runner Up
Leonard Brothers Vets – 2023 Antibiotic Amnesty - Runner Up
RVC Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College – runner up
