| 1 |
NAME |
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The club shall be called THE MIDLAND DOBERMANN CLUB (hereinafter called ‘The Club’) |
| 1a |
COMMON CODE OF ETHICS/Conditions for membership – Annex 1 |
| 2 |
OBJECTS |
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To promote and foster the interests of the Dobermann in Great Britain. To provide a source |
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through which members and other interested parties can exchange views and seek information |
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regarding the welfare or information about the breed. |
| 3 |
MEMBERS |
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The club shall consist of an unlimited number of Members and Honorary Life Members whose |
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names and addresses shall be entered in a register kept by the Secretary. Candidates for |
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membership of The Club shall be proposed by one Member and seconded by another, and elected |
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by or balloted by the Committee at one of their meetings. This will be available for inspection if so |
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requested by the members of The Club or the Kennel Club. |
| 4 |
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE |
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The Club elects annually a President, not more than two Vice Presidents, a Chairman, an Honorary |
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Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer, an Honorary Publicity Officer and a Committee of ten members. |
| 5 |
MANAGEMENT |
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The Management of The Club will be in the hands of the Officers and Committee, all of whom will |
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retire annually but be eligible for re-election. All Officers will have voting rights and will be exofficio |
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members of the Committee. |
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The Committee shall each year at their first meeting after the Annual General Meeting elect from |
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among them a Vice-Chairman. |
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Meetings of the Committee will be held as often as is deemed necessary by the Chairman or |
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Secretary or a majority of the Committee. For the transaction of business at a Committee Meeting, |
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a quorum shall be 50% plus 1 of the current Committee, of whom at least three shall be elected |
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Officers of the Committee. Except in an emergency at least fourteen days notice of a Meeting shall |
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be given to all Committee Members stating a time and place. |
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Any Officer or Member of the Committee who without reasonable cause fails to attend three |
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consecutive meetings may be suspended but the vacancy shall not be filled until the next Annual |
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General Meeting or Special General Meeting is called. |
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‘No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other |
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office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.’ |
| 6 |
VOTING |
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At all Committee and General Meetings each Officer and each Member of more than SIX months |
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standing, except Junior members, shall have one vote on each motion, and in the event of a tie, the |
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Chairman, at their discretion, shall have in addition a casting vote. No member of less than six |
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months standing will be eligible to any club voting, nor during that period to stand for election to |
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any Club office or to nominate or second another member for office. |
| 7 |
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE |
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Officers and Committee members retiring as in Rule 5 shall, if they wish to stand for re-election, |
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notify the Secretary in writing accordingly at least 28 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. |
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New nominees, who must be fully paid up Members at the time of proposal, must be proposed and |
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seconded by fully paid up members in writing with the written agreement to stand of the person |
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nominated at least 28 days before the Annual General Meeting. Anyone wishing to be proposed, as |
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an Officer or Committee member of the Club should have been a Club member for at least THREE |
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continuous years immediately preceding the AGM at which their nomination will be considered. A |
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complete list of candidates, together with the names of their respective proposers and seconders |
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shall be circulated to all members with the agenda of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of |
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insufficient nominations to the committee being received, all nominations received by the Secretary |
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28 days prior to the AGM be automatically elected, and the balance required to be nominated from |
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the floor of the AGM and balloted on and elected by simple majority. Election shall be by secret |
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ballot of those Members present at the Annual General Meeting. |
| 7a |
Officers, Committee Members and Sub-Committee Members of the MDC cannot serve on any |
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other Dobermann Club Committee or Sub-Committee whilst in office. |
| 7b |
Officers and the Committee Members of the MDC cannot handle dogs in the beauty classes at Club |
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shows with the exception of the KC Breeders Competition. |
| 7c |
Whilst the MDC remain members of the Dobermann Breed Council its two representatives shall be |
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elected annually at the committee meeting following the AGM. |
| 8 |
POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE |
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The committee shall have the power to call meetings, to make the necessary bye-laws and rescind |
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the same, to arbitrate in matters of dispute within The Club, to deal at its absolute discretion with |
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the funds and property of The Club and to settle any question or matter not at present provided for |
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in these rules. Any decisions taken under this Rule shall remain operative until the following |
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Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall have the power to appoint Sub-Committees to carry |
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out specific activities composed of Committee Members and/or other members of The Club with |
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suitable qualifications. For liaison purposes, the Chairman of such Sub-Committee shall be invited |
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to attend all relevant meetings of the main Committee but, unless he is also a Member of that |
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Committee he shall not have voting rights. |
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That the Committee be given powers to co-opt qualified Club Members on to the Committee as |
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vacancies occur. These co-opted members will have no voting rights at committee meetings, and |
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must offer themselves for re-election at the following AGM. |
| 9 |
EXPULSION OF MEMBERS |
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If a registered Society or affiliated Organisation fails to terminate the membership of a person |
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suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42.j.(9) or fails to terminate the membership of a person |
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whose dogs is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42.j.(9) or fails to apply other conditions |
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of suspension or disqualification under Kennel Club Rule A42.j.(9) for a like period, the Officers |
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and Committee members of the Society or Organisation or any of them may be dealt with under |
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Kennel Club Rule A42. |
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Notice of the Special General Meeting shall be sent to the member involved giving particulars of |
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the complaint and advising him/her of the place, date and hour of the Meeting, that he/she may |
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attend and offer an explanation. If at that meeting a resolution is passed by secret ballot by twothirds |
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majority of the members present and voting his/her name may be forthwith erased from the |
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list of members and he/she thereupon may cease for all purposes to be a member of The Club, |
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except that he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such a meeting, appeal to the |
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Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose. |
| 10 |
GENERAL MEETINGS |
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Special General Meetings may be called as often as the Committee shall decide. The Secretary |
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shall convene a Special General Meeting if ten or more members submit a signed application for |
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such a meeting, stating the business to be dealt with, at which no other matters may be discussed. |
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All Members shall be given at least fourteen days notice of a Special General Meeting giving the |
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time and place. In dealing with a case of expulsion the Secretary shall take any additional action as |
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required by Rule 9. |
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An Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 31st March in each year for the following |
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purposes: |
| a) |
To receive and accept reports from the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. |
| b) |
To receive and accept the Annual Accounts |
| c) |
To elect Officers, Committee and Honorary Life Members |
| d) |
To appoint Auditors of whom there shall be two unless one is professionally qualified, when he/she |
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alone will suffice |
| e) |
To discuss items previously submitted for the Agenda. |
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At an Annual General Meeting only the business appearing on the published agenda may be dealt |
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with, except matters of routine or those considered by the Chairman to be of sufficient urgency. |
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At least forty two days notice of the date, time and place of an Annual General Meeting shall be |
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given, and all items for the Agenda must be received in writing by the Secretary at least twenty-one |
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days before the meeting. Agendas must be sent to all members at least fourteen days prior to such |
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meeting. |
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General Meetings may only be attended by fully paid up Members, and, for the transaction of |
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business at such meetings, fifteen paid up members shall form a quorum. |
| 11 |
MINUTES OF MEETING |
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The minutes of all Club Meetings shall be prepared by the Secretary for agreement by the |
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Chairman. They shall be circulated as required before the next similar meeting at which they shall |
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be confirmed by vote and signed by the Chairman. |
| 12 |
SUBSCRIPTIONS |
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The Annual Subscription shall be: |
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Single: £7.00 |
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Joint: £8.00* |
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Junior: £0.50 (under 17 and providing one parent is a fully paid up member) |
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*Joint Members – any two members residing permanently at the same address |
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The Committee is empowered to vary this subscription charge as necessary. No members whose |
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subscription or other debts to The Club remain unpaid shall enjoy any privileges of membership, |
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and if any Member fails to make such payments by 31st March of the current year his/her name |
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shall be erased from the list of Members. |
| 13 |
CLUB ACCOUNTS |
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The Club’s financial year shall run from January 1 to December 31. A bank account or accounts |
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shall be opened in the name of The Club to which all income of The Club shall be credited. |
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Withdrawals shall only be made by the Honorary Treasurer or Chairman, plus one other signing |
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Officer. |
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All expenses incurred by the Secretary, Treasurer, Show Manager, Publicity Officer and any other |
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member of The Club authorised by the Chairman shall be re-imbursed from Club funds. |
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The books of accounts shall be kept by the Honorary Treasurer who shall prepare the annual |
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Accounts for certification by the Auditor(s) and will be presented at the Annual General Meeting or |
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afterwards upon request. |
| 14 |
CUPS, TROPHIES AND SPECIAL AWARDS |
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A Cup Steward shall be appointed by the committee from among its members who shall be |
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responsible for keeping records of awards and signatures of recipients. All Cups and Trophies |
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donated to The Club shall be deemed the sole property of The Club and it is only under this |
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condition that they shall be accepted. Each shall be awarded in accordance with the wishes of the |
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donor and may not be re-allocated without his/her written approval. In the event of a donor proving |
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untraceable the committee may, after a lapse of six months, make any change deemed to be in the |
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interests of The Club. Cups, Trophies and Special Awards, unless specifically stated otherwise, |
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shall be available only to fully paid up members. If the winner is a non-member no award shall be |
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made. |
| 15 |
JUDGES |
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Nominations for additions to The Dobermann Breed Council ABC Judging Lists shall be |
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submitted to the Secretary and balloted upon at the next Committee Meeting on the agenda of |
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which any such nominations shall appear, before forwarding to The Doberman Breed Council |
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Secretary. |
| 16 |
BRANCHES |
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The Committee may at their discretion approve the setting up of a Branch or Branches should they |
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consider this necessary and in the best interests of the members in a particular area. Such Branches |
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shall be run constitutionally on the lines of the parent Club. Accounts shall be kept and a Balance |
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sheet submitted each year in time for publication with the parent Club’s Balance Sheet. The elected |
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Committee of any Branch shall include at least one member of the parent Club’s Committee or one |
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of its Officers. Minutes of all Branch meetings shall be kept and the Minute Book shall be readily |
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available for the Club Committee if required. |
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The Club Committee shall have the power to wind up the affairs of any branch they consider is not |
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being constitutionally conducted or sufficiently supported. |
| 17 |
WINDING UP |
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In the event of The Club ceasing for any reason, the donors of the Cups or Trophy shall be |
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consulted where possible and disposed of in accordance with the wishes of the donor. |
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A meeting of the Committee shall be called to decide upon the disposal of any remaining assets |
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after all outstanding liabilities have been discharged. The Kennel Club shall be notified as soon as |
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a decision is made to wind up The Club, and, within six months of such date they shall be supplied |
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with a final statement of the accounts and a record showing disposal of all Club property |
| 18 |
ALTERATIONS TO RULES |
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The Rules of The Club may not be altered except at an Annual General or Special General Meeting, |
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notice of which includes details of the proposal to alter the Rules, and such alterations shall not be |
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brought into force until the Kennel Club had been advised and has given its approval of the |
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alterations. |
| 19 |
KENNEL CLUB FINAL COURT OF APPEAL |
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The Kennel Club shall be the final court of appeal in all matters of dispute. |
| 20 |
FEDERATION OF CLUBS |
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The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs. |
| 21 |
ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB |
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The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, maintenance of the Title Fee |
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will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for continuance of registration and that prior |
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to 31 July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club for the Registration and |
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Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies |
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and Municipal Authorities be forwarded to the Kennel Club. |
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If returns cannot be forwarded prior to 31 July the Officers acknowledge their duty to inform the |
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Kennel Club accordingly. |
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The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any change of Secretary of |
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The Club which may occur during the course of the year. |
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In response to the recent Kennel Club directive the Midland Dobermann Club have now adopted |
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the new updated KC General Code of Ethics. |
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The “Clubs” own Code of Ethics are more breed specific and will be presented to the Kennel Club |
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as instructed. On approval our own Code of Ethics will be implemented as soon as possible. |
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THE MIDLAND DOBERMANN CLUB
GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
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All members of The Midland Dobermann Club undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics. |
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Club members: |
| 1. |
Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate |
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veterinary attention if and when required. |
| 2. |
Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their |
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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 |
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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 |
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carrying out official duties. |
| 8. |
Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective |
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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 |
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with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change. |
| 11. |
Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible |
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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 |
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or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest |
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opportunity, if not immediately available. |
| 13. |
Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow |
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dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction |
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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 dogs nor |
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mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog. |
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Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by
|
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the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
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KC/GJ September 2008
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