THE OTTERHOUND CLUB GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
All members of The Otterhound 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, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, 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.
- Breeds 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.
KC/GJ September 2008
The Otterhound Club
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Members should not breed in any way that may be interpreted as exploitation of the breed.
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Bitches should not be whelped before two years of age, should not have more than 3 litters in a lifetime, and rear more than 30 puppies in a lifetime. Preferably they should not be bred from at two consecutive seasons.
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Before selling a puppy, members must take all possible measures to ensure the suitability of the breed for the prospective owners and their lifestyle. They must provide information.about the breed or ask the secretary of the club to do so.
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Before selling a puppy, members must advise prospective owners of physical defects and conditions known to have occurred in the breed since 1978.
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Before selling a puppy members must inform the prospective owners of the results of any diagnostic tests to which the Sire and Dam of the litter may have been subjected. If the Sire and /or Dam have not been tested the prospective owners must be informed.
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Members must not knowingly sell puppies for resale.
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At the time of selling the puppy, members must supply the new owner with its registration certificate. The transfer application should be completed by the breeder and the new owner together. Any endorsements to the registration must be pointed out to the new owner and the significance explained, written and signed agreement must be obtained from the new owner (s). If the registration certificate is not available the new owner should be informed of the position, e.g. litter recorded, name applied for. Evidence should be supplied.
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At the time of sale members must provide new owners with recommended diet sheet regarded as suited to the puppy’s needs during the first year, information on worming already carried out and recommended future treatment.
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At the time of sale members must hand over the puppy’s vaccination certificate. If the puppy has not been vaccinated the new owners must be informed
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Members must provide a receipt showing the puppy’s name and the price paid.
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At the time of sale the new owners must be advised of the course of action to follow should they be unable to keep the hound. Wherever possible, breeders should take back their own stock. They should advise purchasers of “rescue”.
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Though the above items refer to breeders i.e. the owners of bitches, the owners of stud dogs are reminded of their responsibilities in accepting stud bookings, which may in part be met by checking that the owners of bitches have subscribed to this code. In view of the relatively small gene pool they should consider the number of bookings to any one stud dog.
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That the Club will publish and circulate annually a report compiled by the Health Coordinator. This report to be supplied to members, exhibitors and all past, present and future breeders, annually, whether a member of the Otterhound Club or not. Also to be sent out with the Club Puppy Pack and placed on the Club website as it becomes available. This report to include all hip scores and elbow scores updated as they are published by the Kennel Club. The annual Health Report to include a full list of all fitting hounds since 1977, supplying 5 generation pedigrees and names of the siblings of the affected hound.
In agreeing to be bound by this simple Code of Ethics members also agree to a copy of the code being supplied to any
prospective owner applying to the club for information about the breed.
N.B. It is recommended that all information given to new owners be in writing of which a copy is retained by the breeder
and that as an additional safeguard, the copy be signed by the new owner.