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CODE
OF ETHICS
FOR
ALL MEMBERS OF THE BORDER COLLIE CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN
The
Border Collie Club
of Great
Britain recognises its responsibility to preserve and protect the
Border Collie
and the reputation of the Border Collie rests unequivocally with the
breeders
and those active in the Breed.
Therefore
certain standards of the ethics are laid out for the guidance of
members, who
should have read and familiarised themselves with the Kennel Club
standard for
the Breed. Membership of the Club requires acceptance of all this Code
of
Ethics.
Members
are expected to conduct
themselves at all times in such a manner as reflects the credit of
ownership of
the Border Collie and be respectful and sportsmanlike to judges,
stewards and
fellow exhibitors, both inside and outside the ring.
Club
members
1.
Will
properly house, feed, water and exercise all
dogs
under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if
and when
required.
2.
Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon
performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural
conformation of the animal, may report such operation to the Kennel
Club.
3.
Will
agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies
which may not conform to the Breed
Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
4.
Will
abide by all aspects
of the Animal Welfare Act.
5.
Will
not create demand
for, nor supply, puppies that
have been docked illegally.
6.
Will
agree not to breed
from a dog or bitch which could
be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
7.
Will
not allow any of
their dogs to roam at large or to
cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
8.
Will
ensure that their
dogs wear properly tagged
collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away
from
home.
9.
Will
clean up after their
dogs in public places or
anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
10.
Will
only sell dogs where
there is a reasonable expectation
of a happy and healthy life and will help with the rehoming of a dog if
the
initial circumstances change.
11.
Will
supply written
details of all dietary requirements
and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in
a new
home.
12. Will
ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are
provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog and will
agree in
writing to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity,
if not
immediately available.
13.
Will
not sell any dog to
commercial dog wholesalers,
retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as
a prize
or donation in a competition of any kind. Will
not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club
registration certificates
as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).
14.
Will
not knowingly misrepresent the
characteristics of
the breed nor falsely advertise nor mislead any person regarding the
health or
quality of a dog.
15.
Members
should breed only
from mature dogs and bitches
– remembering that this Breed matures slowly and bitches
should
be at least 18 months
- they should be eye tested unaffected and preferably hip scored. Available tests for the
genetic conditions recognised in the Breed should be carried out, and
their
status made known to potential puppy owners. Currently these
are
TNS, CL
& CEA.
The prime concern should be to produce
healthy and
sound dogs who will be a credit to the breed. Dogs
and bitches should be of sound
temperament with no tendency for nervousness
or aggression.
16. There
is no shame in producing an animal with a
hereditary defect – they are unfortunately present in the
Breed
and will only
be eliminated when all breeders are willing to face the problems and
deal with
them.
The only
shame that occurs is when
less enlightened breeders refuse to face up to the facts and seek to
hide the
truth from their fellows.
If breeders
ignore problems and continue to breed from stock they know to be
defective,
there will only be one possible future for the Breed, a slippery
downward
slope. that
any offspring that is sold to pet homes/unsuitable for breeding
should be issued with a "non-breeding contract".
17. No
member should breed a litter unless
he/she has the time and facilities to devote proper care and attention
to the
rearing of the puppies and to the well being of the dam, and no member
should
provide stud services unless he/she is satisfied that the owner of the
bitch
has such time and facilities.
In
providing stud services to bitches, members should ensure that the
bitch is
physically and mentally sound. Unregistered stock should not be used
for
breeding.
Stud
services should be
refused to unregistered or unregister able stock. In
providing
stud services to bitches, members should ensure that the bitch is
physically
and mentally sound, of suitable temperament and is suitably
health
tested
as per the requirements of the BCC of GB.
18. When
selling stock, members should be honest in their
dealing with clients both at home and abroad, putting the interest of
the Breed
before profit. Puppies should be at least seven weeks old when passed
to new owners,
having been wormed, eye tested and in good health.
19. Members
should not keep more dogs than they can
properly care for, nor regularly leave their dogs unattended for the
greater
portion of the day.
20.
Members
should respect
and honour their older dogs.
Breach
of
these provisions may result in expulsion from club
membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or
reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
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