West of England Border Collie Club Club Rules, Puppy List Policy & Code of Ethics

1. The aim of the Club is to promote all aspects of the Border Collie. Activities to include Breed Showing, Obedience, Agility, Working Trials & Stock Working. We also encourage the routine Health Testing of all members’ dogs including Hip Scoring, Eye Testing and DNA testing as per genetic panel for Border Collies.

2. The Club shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon.Treasurer and up to 14 Committee. Members and an unlimited number of Members, and may also include a President and Patron

3. Management of the Club shall be composed of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon.Secretary, Hon.Treasurer and up to 14 Committee Members.

4. Committee meetings shall be called by the Hon.Secretary as often as is necessary or by the Chairman, President or by any two Committee Members.

5. An attendance of five currently serving Committee Members (which must include the Hon. Secretary) shall form a quorum for the transaction of Committee business.

6. In all matters of dispute, the Kennel Club is the final Court of Appeal.

7. Any matters arising that are not covered by the rules shall be dealt with by the Committee.

8. The Officers & Committee shall hold office for a period of three years at a time. Any two Members may nominate as many Members as there are places to serve on the Committee. Members not seeking re-election must inform the Hon. Secretary in writing at least 7 Weeks before the date fixed for the A.G.M. The election of the Chairman and committee members will take place at the AGM by ballot by those present at the meeting. Should any candidate receive equal votes thereby bringing the total number of committee to more than the permitted number the committee shall select by lot which candidate shall be selected. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt Members on to the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between General Meetings. Those co-opted shall only hold office until the next General Meeting of the Club at which an election of Officers and Committee takes place. Each Member shall be entitled to one vote immediately upon acceptance of Membership. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
Note: Joint Membership, one vote per each Member of the partnership.

9. The President may hold office for five years and shall be elected only from accepted nominations.

10. The Chairman shall be elected in the same manner as other Committee Members, but the Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary and the Hon. Treasurer shall be elected by the serving Committee.

11. Candidates for Membership must send their application to the Hon. Secretary who may seek the approval of the Committee for each application. When first approved the Members will be sent a copy of the rules. If any applicant does not meet with the approval of the Committee, the subscription will be returned to him/her. The Committee reserves the right to refuse Membership application. The subscription must accompany the application for Membership. The annual Subscription shall be such amount as agreed by the Members in a General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club. Membership renewals fall due on the 1st January each year but for those Members joining after 1st October the subscription shall cover the period from 1st January immediately following.

12. The financial year shall be from 1st January to 31st December.

13. Members wishing to resign must do so in writing. No part of their subscription is returnable and no claim may be made against the Club.

14. The West of England Border Collie Club shall not join any Federation, Societies or Clubs without the permission of the Kennel Club

15. Expenses properly incurred by the Committee on the Club’s behalf shall be defrayed out of Club funds.

16. Club funds will be paid into a Bank Account in the name of The West Of England Border Collie Club. Accounts shall be kept by the Hon. Treasurer and shall be audited annually by an appointed auditor independent of the Committee. The Club will hold a higher interest account and have access to online banking for nominated and approved officers. Hon Treasurer may pay authorised expenses by cash, cheque or bank transfer. The Hon Secretary, and any approved and authorised Club Officers, may hold a debit card for the Club’s account to pay for pre-agreed expenses including, but not exhaustive to, show venue payments, consumables, order of rosettes etc. Cash withdrawals shall only be made by the holder of debit with the agreement of 2 officers from a group of 4 Club Officers as appointed by the Committee. Members can see accounts at the AGM, or after, if requested.

17. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in the months of February, March or April each year and it’s purpose will be to consider reports from the Officers, including the balance sheet, and to discuss items on the Agenda. Notice of the Meeting shall be served at least 8 Weeks before the date of the Meeting, via the website and social media as well as published in the canine press. All nominations for the Committee and items for the Agenda should be received by the Secretary not less than 14 days before the meeting. 7 members shall form a quorum for the AGM.

18. The Rules of the Club may not be changed except at an A.G.M. or S.G.M., notice of which includes details of the proposal to alter the Rules. Such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and has given it’s approval of the alteration. No business shall be transacted at the A.G.M. unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda with the exception of routine matters which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Meeting, are urgent.

19. Any Member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A11.j.(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Club. If the conduct of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, the Committee of the Club may , at a meeting the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the Member, determine that a Special General Meeting of the Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her. Notice of the S.G.M. shall be sent to the accused Member, giving particulars of the complaint and advising the place, date and hour of the Meeting that he/she may attend and offer an explanation. If at the Meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting, his/her name shall forthwith be erased from the list of Members, and he/she shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a Member of the Club except that he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such Meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose.

20. If the Club expels any Member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows or working trials, the Club must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.

21. Any trophies which are offered to the Club must be as an outright gift, which must be stated in writing by the donor. All trophies must be fully insured. Perpetual trophies can only be held by members of the West Of England Border Collie Club. Should membership cease, for any reason, then all such trophies must be returned to the Hon Secretary immediately. Receipt of all perpetual trophies must be recorded at the time of presentation. The date for the return of trophies shall be decided and advised by the Hon Secretary. Such trophies must be returned, cleaned, to the Hon Secretary, or before, the agreed date, or immediately if requested by the Cup Steward or Committee. The Committee may decide not to present gifted trophies.

22. Any property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee. Should the Club be wound up, a General Meeting shall be called and the remaining assets after all payments of liabilities, shall be divided amongst the members at the time of dissolution, provided that no Member receives a sum in excess of the single annual subscription. Any funds remaining after such a distribution will be disposed of, preferably to an organisation approved by the Membership for the furtherance of the Club’s aims, and if no such organisation is found, to assist an organisation responsible for the wellbeing of dogs generally, and such organisation must, in the view of the liquidator, be non-profit making. A final statement of accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Club shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months, and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Club, will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Club.

23. The Committee may call a S.G.M. when necessary and must do so when requested by ten Members in writing, stating in full the purpose for which the meeting is being called. Notice of a S.G.M. and Agenda shall be sent to all Members 35 days or more before the date of the meeting. No business other than the original business of the S.G.M. shall be transacted. Resolutions shall only be passed if they are supported by two-thirds or more of those Members present and voting

24. Judges shall be selected and invited by the Show Secretary from those names suggested by the Judges Sub-Committee, Committee or General Membership and decided upon by the Judges Sub-Committee.

25. ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for the continuance of Registration (this may be by any banking means) and that by the 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities be forwarded to the Kennel Club. The officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of Hon Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the year.

26. The Secretary acknowledges their duty to inform the Kennel Club of the month in which the Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held and to notify the Kennel Club of any subsequent to the date.

27. No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society/Club.

28. An up to date list of members’ names and their addresses, and those of branch members where appropriate, must be maintained and, if so requested, the list of names made available for inspection by the Kennel Club and members of the society. A declaration of the number of members of the society must be made with annual returns.

THE  W.E.B.C.C. MEMBERS PUPPY LIST

POLICY STATEMENT

a. As per rule 1 of  the West of England Border Collie Club’s constitution, the Club’s aim is to promote and encourage all aspects of the Border Collie to include Breed Showing, Obedience, Agility, Working Trails & Stock Working. We also encourage the routine Health Testing of all members dogs including Hip-Scoring, Eye-Testing and DNA testing as per genetic panel for Border Collies. This includes litters.

b. The West of England Border Collie Club reserve the right to refuse litters to the Puppy List. They also reserve the right to close the Puppy List at any time. 

c. Members should submit their litters to the Puppy List Co-Ordinator in the manner requested by the Club. There is no fee for Members, non-members may submit their litters for inclusion on the Puppy List at a fee of £5 per litter.

d. Members must inform the Puppy List Co-Ordinator when all the puppies are sold or details of the litter change.

e. All breeding stock should be of good health, type and sound in body and mind. Dogs of a nervous and/or agressive nature should not be bred.

f. Males with missing testicles, animals with mouth faults, and animals with other characteristics untypical of the Breed should not be used for breeding.

GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS

 All members of the West of England Border Collie Club undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics.

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, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operations 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 re-homing of a dog if the initial owners’ 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 documents (not accompanying the appropriately registered dog).
14. 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.

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.