THE SOUTHERN RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK ASSOCIATION
CODE OF ETHICS
Generally
1. Members will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2. Members will not allow their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
3. Members will ensure that their dogs shall wear properly tagged collars and shall be kept fully leashed or under effective control when away from home.
4. Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
5. Members will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
6. Members will agree without reservation that any Veterinary Surgeon operating on any of their dogs which alters the natural confirmation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operation to the Kennel Club.
7. Members will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog including a copy of this recommendation. Purchasers must be made aware by the breeder of any endorsements, terms and conditions to be applied by the breeder, in writing, before purchase.
8. Members who breed a litter should give prospective purchasers the opportunity to view puppies along with their mother.
9. Members agree only to sell Rhodesian Ridgebacks over the age of 8 weeks and to be micro-chipped. To ensure the puppy is fully inoculated after 12 weeks. There must be an expectation of a happy and healthy life, and will help with the rehoming of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
10. Recommended all puppies to be sold with insurance cover.
11. Members will provide written details of all dietary requirements and worming. To give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home and be available in the future to give advice.
12. Members 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.
13. Members will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the quality of a dog.
14. Members shall only breed from K.C. registered Rhodesian Ridgebacks which are believed to be clear from hereditary defects, and be mentally and physically sound.
Specifically
15. Members are strongly advised to submit breeding stock to the KC/BVA Hip and Elbow Schemes, and Degenerative Myelopathy and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy for screening, and will make available copies of relevant documents to purchasers of their stock.
16. Members should be made aware about the facts of Dermoid Sinus, its implications to the breed and how to detect its presence.
17. If a sinus is detected on a puppy the breeder a) should in consultation with the owner agree a contribution towards an operation or refund 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 rehomed 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.
18. Any non-breed standard puppy should be described as such and sold as ‘not to be shown or bred from’. This should be reflected in the price. Ridgeless puppies should be re-homed with a contract that it will be spayed/ castrated within a stipulated time period.
19. 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.
20. 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, members’ practices or character.
21. a) Bitches must not be bred from under 2 years.
b) Bitches must not be bred from on consecutive seasons unless the consecutive season falls outside a 12 month period.
c) Bitches should not be expected to whelp after the age of 8 (except in exceptional circumstances when supported by a Veterinary Health Certificate), and should not have more than 3 litters in her lifetime. It is unwise to take a first litter from a bitch after her 5th birthday without taking veterinary advice.
d) 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 Southern Rhodesian Ridgeback Association , 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.
22. Members will when breeding Rhodesian Ridgebacks adopt as the highest standard the principles, requirements and recommendations as embodied in the Southern Rhodesian Ridgeback Association’s Code of Ethics. It is left to members to decide if they wish to join the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme.