MIDLAND'S & NORTHERN RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK CLUB
GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
All
members of the Midlands and Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Club undertake
to abide by its general Code of Ethics.
Club members:
- Will properly house, feed,
water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for
appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
- 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.
- Will agree that no healthy
puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the
Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes
- Will abide by all aspects of
the Animal Welfare Act.
- Will not create demand for,
nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
- Will agree not to breed from a
dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or
to the breed.
- Will not allow any of their
dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours
or those carrying out official duties.
- Will ensure that their dogs
wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or
under effective control when away from home.
- Will clean up after their dogs
in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
- Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation
of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing
of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
- Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance
concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
- 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.
- 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).
- Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely
advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health
or quality of a dog.
- A breeder shall only breed from Kennel Club registered
Rhodesian Ridgebacks which conform to the Breed Standard and
are believed to be clear from hereditary defects, are
mentally and physically sound and not suffering from acute
nervousness or aggressive tendencies.
- Bitches shall not be mated or have any other form of
insemination prior to 2 years of age or produce a litter
after her eighth birthday, and shall not be bred from on
more than one occasion in any period of twelve calendar
months.
- No bitch shall be expected to produce more than 3 litters or 30
puppies, whichever is produced first, in her lifetime.
- All puppies shall be carefully examined for dermoid sinus by
at least two experienced people a few days from birth and at
least twice thereafter before leaving for new homes, any
puppy discovered to have a sinus before leaving the
nest can be operated on and then re-homed without registration documents
at rearing costs only, with a contract that it will be
spayed/castrated within a stipulated time period. When a
sinus is detected after the puppy has been sold the breeder
shall, in consultation with the new owner: a) agree a
financial contribution towards the operation to remove the
sinus and neuter the puppy OR b) take the puppy back and
either reimburse the owner OR undertake, in writing to supply another puppy. In this
event, the puppy may be operated upon for the removal of the
sinus and neutered.
Thereafter it may be retained or re homed without
charge. All new
owners shall be made aware of the facts about sinus, its
implications for the Breed and how to detect its presence.
- Any puppy sold over the age of 12 weeks shall be inoculated
and no puppy shall leave the breeder under the age of 7
weeks but preferably not until 8 weeks old. They shall be
accompanied by a certificate of pedigree, diet sheet and
details of worming.
- Any mis-marked puppy shall be described as such and sold as
'not to be shown or bred from'.
This shall be reflected in the price. Ridgeless
puppies should be re-homed without registration documents,
at rearing costs only, with a contract that it will be
spayed /castrated within a stipulated time period.
- Puppies shall not be sold through dealers, pet shops,
'trading posts', 'puppy ranches' etc.
Ideally, they shall be sold direct to their new
homes, every effort having been made to ascertain that the
new owners have the facilities, time and commitment to
correctly raise, train, exercise and appreciate a large,
active but sensitive hound.
- Stud dog owners shall satisfy themselves as to the
suitability, breeding and condition of any bitch presented
to them and also as to the conditions under which any
resultant litter would be reared.
If the owner of the bitch is not a member of the
Midlands & Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Club they shall be
required to indicate that they will adhere to this Code of
Ethics by signing, prior to mating, a copy to be retained by
the owner of the stud dog.
- No member shall engage in false or misleading advertising or
other falsification of their Rhodesian Ridgebacks, nor shall
they malign judges, fellow competitors, breeders or owners
by making false or misleading statements about other dogs,
member’s practices or character.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that:
- ALL BREEDING STOCK IS X-RAYED UNDER THE
BVA/KC HIP DYSPLASIA SCHEME.
- ALL PUPPIES BE SOLD WITH INSURANCE COVER.
(excluding Dermoid Sinus if applicable)
- CHECKS FOR DERMOID SINUS ARE UNDERTAKEN BY AT
LEAST TWO COMPETENT PERSONS, I.E. EXPERIENCED BREEDERS,
VETERINARY SURGEONS WITH SOME KNOWLEDGE OF SINUS AND ITS
DETECTION.
- BITCHES SHOULD NOT BE BRED FROM FOR THE FIRST
TIME OVER THE AGE OF 4 YEARS
- NO MEMBER SHALL BREED MORE THAN 3 LITTERS IN
ANY 12 MONTH PERIOD.
- ALL PUPPIES SHOULD BE ENDORSED BY USING THE
KENNEL CLUB ENDORSEMENT SYSTEM AT TIME OF REGISTRATION.
- THAT ALL RHODESIAN RIDGEBACKS ARE IDENTIFIED
BY MICROCHIP OR TATTOO
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.
