Rules & Code of Ethics
These are proposed Rules and Code of Ethics that have been drafted with view to the club being recognised by The Kennel Club at some stage in the future
Bolognese Dog Club UK
Rules & Regulations
1. NAME
The Club will be called Bolognese Dog Club UK
2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES
2.1 To promote the ownership, exhibition and breeding of the Bolognese
2.2 To maintain the breed as closely as possible to its Country of Origin Standard
2.3 To safeguard the welfare of the breed
2.4 To provide education and advice to newcomers to the breed
3. OFFICERS & COMMITTEE
3.1 The club shall consist of an Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, a Chairman, a Committee of up to nine and an unlimited number of Members. The club may also choose to have a President.
3.2 The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the Officers and Committee of the Club. The Chairman of the Meeting shall have the casting vote.
3.3 Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least every four months
3.4 A quorum for Committee Meetings shall be four. Except in emergencies, Committee Meetings shall be convened by the Hon Secretary by notice by post, telephone or email not less than fourteen days prior to the Meeting
3.5 The Committee shall have the power to co-opt nonvoting Members on to the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between Annual 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.
3.6 No individual whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of, or hold any other office or appointment with, a Kennel Club Registered Society.
4. ELECTION OF PATRONS THE PRESIDENT
4.1 The President shall be elected for a term of three years by postal ballot of all fully paid up Members eligible to vote, shall have full voting rights and shall be entitled to attend Committee Meetings.
5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEE
5.1 The Chairman shall be elected for a term of three years by postal ballot of all fully paid up Members eligible to vote, shall have full voting rights and shall be eligible for re-election.
5.2 The Hon Secretary and the Hon Treasurer shall be elected for a term of two years by postal ballot of all fully paid up Members eligible to vote, shall have full voting rights, shall retire in alternate years and shall be eligible for re-election.
5.3 Committee Members shall be elected for a term of two years by postal ballot of all fully paid up Members eligible to vote and shall have full voting rights. Half the Committee shall retire annually and shall be eligible for re-election.
5.4 Candidates for the election of Officers and Committee must be proposed and seconded by fully paid up Members of at least three years standing (after three years have passed).
6. ELECTION OF MEMBERS
6.1 Candidates for Membership shall be proposed by one fully paid up Member of at least three years standing (after three years have passed) and seconded by another fully paid up Member of at least two years standing (when two years have passed).
6.2 Candidates for Membership shall be elected by secret ballot of Committee Members at the earliest Committee Meeting. Two votes against shall result in refusal of Membership.
6.3 Candidates who apply for Membership will have been deemed to have read the Club Rules and Regulations and must agree to comply with them.
6.4 The Club must, if so requested, make an up to date list of Members available for inspection by The Kennel Club and Members of the Club.
7. VOTING RIGHTS
Each Member shall be entitled to one vote, one calendar year after acceptance of Membership.
8. CLUB PROPERTY
The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, a final General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Club’s assets and the outcome of the Meeting notified to the Kennel Club. If the Club is wound up or ceases to be a Registered Society under these Regulations, a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Club, on the last return furnished to The Kennel Club will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Club.
9. CLUB ACCOUNTS & FINANCIAL YEAR
9.1 A Banking Account shall be held in the name of the Club at Lloyds Bank plc into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of two of the following :- The Chairman, The Hon. Secretary, The Hon. Treasurer.
9.2 The accounts will be certified annually and presented to the Members at the Annual General Meeting. Certification of accounts will be carried out by one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience to be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
9.3 The Financial year of the Club shall be from 1st January to 31st December.
10. SUBSCRIPTIONS
10.1 The Annual Subscription shall be such amount as agreed by Members in General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.
10.2 All subscriptions shall be due on 1st January.
1O.3 No Member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any of the privileges of Membership and if the Member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions by March 1st, his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register will be dependent upon a new application and payment of back arrears.
NOTE Once Members have been accepted for Membership, providing they continue to pay their Membership subscriptions at the correct time they cannot be refused renewal of Membership. With the exception of default on subscriptions, the only way to remove a Member from the Club’s register is by following the procedure defined in Rule 16 of the Rules and Regulations.
11. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
11.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held on or before 30th June to:
i) Receive the report of the Committee and Balance Sheet.
ii) Declare the results of the ballots for President, Vice Officers and Committee Members.
iii) Declare the results of ballots for Amendments to the Rules & Regulations.
iv) Appoint Auditor/s.
v) Discuss items submitted in accordance with the Club Rules and Regulations.
vi) Present Club Trophies when appropriate.
11.2 No business shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda, with the exception of routine matters or those which in the opinion of the Chairman of the Meeting are urgent.
11.3 Four weeks notice of such Meetings must be given to Members in writing.
11.4 Items for inclusion on the Agenda must be received by the Secretary two weeks before the Meeting and must be proposed and seconded by fully paid up Members.
11.5 The Agenda together with relevant ballot papers will be circulated four weeks before the Meeting.
11.6 The Committee will appoint an independent scrutineer to whom all ballot papers must be returned by Midnight seven clear days before the Meeting.
11.7 Only fully paid up Members will be entitled to attend the Meeting and may vote in accordance with Rule 7. A quorum shall be ten Members.
12. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
12.1 A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if twenty Members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so.
12.2 The Committee of the Club is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting.
12.3 No business other than that detailed on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.
12.4 Members are entitled to 21 days notification of a Special General Meeting.
12.5 Only fully paid up Members will be entitled to attend the Meeting and may vote in accordance with Rule 7. A quorum shall be ten Members.
13. AMENDMENTS TO RULES AND REGULATIONS
13.1 The Rules and Regulations of the Club may not be altered except by postal ballot of all fully paid up Members eligible to vote and announced at a General Meeting. Sixty percent of Members eligible to vote shall be the required majority.
13.2 Proposed amendments to the Rules must be proposed and seconded by two fully paid up Members of at least three years standing (after three years have passed).
13.3 Any proposed alteration to the Rules may not be brought into effect until the Kennel Club has been advised and approved the alteration.
14. IDENTIFICATION OF MEMBERS DOGS
14.1 Members must identify by means of micro-chipping all Bolognese in their ownership or joint ownership.
14.2 Puppies must be micro-chipped according to the law.
14.3 Members will make the use of their stud dogs conditional upon all resulting progeny being micro-chipped according to the law.
14.4 All breeding stock must be registered with The Kennel Club
NB. Rule 14 applies to all Bolognese owned by a Member whether registered with the Kennel Club or not. For Members residing outside the United Kingdom Rule 14 is advisory only.
15. KENNEL CLUB GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
1) Members will at all times act in the interests of the breed and will properly house, feed, water, groom and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2) Members 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.
3) Members 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) Members will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
5) Members will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
6) Members 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) Members 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) Members will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
9) Members will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
10) Members 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.)
11) Members will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
12) Members 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) Before selling dogs Members should check as far as possible the credentials of the prospective purchaser. Members will not directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Members will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as standalone items (not accompanying a dog).
14) Members 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
15) Breed Specific Code of Ethics
1) No Members shall breed from a bitch before her second season and no bitch to be mated so as to whelp before she is 18 months old. No bitch shall be allowed to whelp more than four litters.
2) A Member shall not breed a litter unless she/he has the time and facilities to devote proper care and attention to the rearing of the puppies and to the well being of the dam and no Member should provide stud services unless she/he is satisfied that the owner of the bitch has such time and facilities.
3) No Member should breed a litter unless she/he is reasonably sure of securing suitable homes for the puppies. No puppies should leave the breeder before the age of nine weeks. All Bolognese (puppies & adults) sold/ re-homed by a Member must be the subject of a written contract with the new owner which includes the following clause “if for any reason you are unable to continue to keep your Bolognese you must inform me immediately and either make arrangements to return the dog to me or supply details of the proposed new owner. The dog must not leave your care until I am satisfied that the new owner is suitable and has in turn signed my contract. ” With the exception of puppies being exported outside the UK, the Kennel Club registration documents of all puppies must be endorsed ‘Progeny not able for Registration and Not eligible for an export pedigree’. Breeders must give new owners written notification of the endorsement and no puppies must leave the breeder’s care until the new owner has agreed in writing to the endorsement.
4) Members should do all in their power to discourage breeding from clearly unsound or otherwise inferior stock. Stud service should be refused for bitches from such stock.
5) Dogs must not be exported to countries where they are not protected by anti-cruelty laws. (If in doubt consult JAWS, DEFRA, RSPCA or KC). Dogs may not be exported before the age of nine weeks and Members must strictly comply with the IATA and DEFRA Regulations. Members must not sell any dog to laboratories, commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or to any persons known to sell dogs to any of the above nor should stud service be available to such persons. (A dealer is defined as a person who regularly buys stock for sale at a profit. A person who buys a dog as an agent for a known individual is not necessarily a dealer). Members must ensure that all Bolognese in their ownership are micro-chipped.
6) Wilful neglect or cruelty to any dog may result in exclusion from or expulsion from Membership, subject to the provision of Rule 16.
7) Before breeding a litter a Member:-
a) Must accept the commitment to take back, if necessary, all Bolognese bred (see Rule 15.15 3).This obligation is for the whole of the dog’s life.
b) Must give due consideration to type, health and soundness but the preservation of the exceptional temperament of the Bolognese must be of paramount importance. Members must not breed from dogs which display any sign of unprovoked aggression to human beings.
c) It is a club recommendation that all breeding stock are examined by a veterinary surgeon for signs of Patella Luxation and consideration should be carefully taken as to the suitability of the dog for breeding.
d) It is a club recommendation that all breeding stock is tested under the BVA/KC/International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) Eye Scheme for inherited eye disease. Ideally this should be carried out before a dog has reached one year old and thereafter on an annual basis. This is a recommendation
e) Must agree to abide by any other health or welfare requirements as proposed by the Health sub-Committee and ratified by a simple majority of Members at the Annual General Meeting.
f) Must be capable of instructing new owners in the specific grooming techniques of the Bolognese coat.
16. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
16.1 Any Member who shall be suspended under The Kennel Club Rule A42j(5.) and/or any Member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Society. If the conduct of the Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Club 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 Society shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her. Notice of the Special General Meeting 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 Society 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.
16.2 The Committee reserves the right to refuse Membership to, or to recommend to a General Meeting of the Club for expulsion from Membership, of any person who acts in breach of Rules 14, or who knowingly and/or persistently acts in breach of Rule 15 Code of Conduct or to the detriment of the breed, an individual dog or in such a manner as to bring the Bolognese Dog Club UK into disrepute. (vide Rule 16.1).
16.3 If the Club expels any Member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, Dog Shows, or Competitions, the Club must report the matter in writing to The Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
17. 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 or by Direct Debit for continuance of Registration, and that by July 31 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 Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the year.
18. INDEPENDENCE OF CLUB
The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
19. JUDGE’S LISTS
The Club will produce when appropriate a list of Judges each year which will be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of the Club’s Annual Returns.
20. WEBSITE/NEWSLETTERS
All content on the website and in newsletters will be approved by the Committee & Website Editor.
21. KENNEL CLUB FINAL AUTHORITY
The Kennel Club shall be the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Club in all cases relative to Canine or Club matters.
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.