Code of Ethics


 

The Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of America (MASCA) in keeping with its paramount Constitutional aim of breeding the Miniature Australian Shepherd for working ability, health as well as all other outstanding qualities, has adopted the following Code of Ethics to promote and foster the highest standards among breeders, owners and fanciers; and to encourage good sportsmanship and cooperation in the improvement and advancement of the breed. All members of MASCA subscribe to and uphold this Code of Ethics.

PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR MEMBERSHIP AN
INDIVIDUAL MUST READ, AGREE TO ABIDE BY
AND SIGN THE MASCA CODE OF ETHICS.

Article 1: Records

  1. Each member who breeds his/her bitch or uses his/her stud for services must keep accurate records of stock, such as stud services, pedigrees, all litters produced, sales of dog/puppies, all exchanges involving Miniature Australian Shepherds for a minimum of five (5) years.
  2. Any member who falsifies a registration or knowingly misrepresents a pedigree should be reported to the MASCA Board of Directors.

Article 2: Breeding

  1. A breeder should plan each breeding with the paramount intention of improving the breed.
  2. A breeder should select a stud and matron with an eye to conformation, temperament and working ability with careful study of the MASCA Breed Standard, pedigrees and basic principles of genetics.
  3. A breeder shall refrain from breeding any dog or bitch under the age of twelve (12) months. Offspring of any dog and/or any bitch under the age of twelve (12) months but over the age of nine (9) months shall be eligible for Provisional Registration only. Offspring of any dog and/or any bitch under the age of nine (9) months shall not be eligible for MASCA registration. Two (2) years is the preferred minimum age for breeding any dog or bitch.
  4. Before entering into any breeding agreement, a breeder must scrutinize the pedigree, conformation and working potentials of both sire and dam, keeping in mind the ideal Miniature Australian Shepherd, as described in the MASCA Breed Standard.
  5. A breeder should refuse any breeding if, in his/her opinion it is not in the best interest of the breed. Should he/she refuse the breeding, an explanation of his/her reasoning should be given to the owner of the bitch. A breeder should use for breeding purposes only those individuals that are free from defects such as monorchidism, cryptorchidism, deafness, hereditary eye or hip defects and other disqualifying defects. A breeder must further refrain from breeding any individual dog, who although free from defects, consistently produces afflicted puppies.

Article 3: Health

  1. A breeder must maintain high standards of health care and shelter for his/her dogs and guarantee the health of puppies at the time of sale.

Article 4: Sales

  1. A breeder must be discriminatory in the sale of his/her puppies and be concerned with the type of homes in which they are placed. A breeder must thoroughly screen all prospective puppy buyers. With this in mind, Miniature Australian Shepherds shall not be donated
    for raffles or sold to wholesalers or retailers such as pet shops
  2. A breeder should, for his/her own protection as well as that of the buyer, provide adequate written contractual proof of sale and guarantees.
  3. A breeder should provide a minimum of one (1) year written guarantee against handicapping congenital defects on all puppies sold, and additionally on the sale of breeding stock he/she should guarantee against all hereditary defects and disqualifying faults according to the MASCA Breed Standard for a like period of time. In addition he/she should provide a spay/neuter contract or provide early spay/neuter on all puppies sold as pets only and be willing to take back and find alternative homes for any dog of his/her breeding in the event the buyer may be unable at any point to provide proper care for it.
  4. A breeder should transfer all applicable registration papers at the time the purchase agreement is completed and agreeable to both parties.
  5. Upon the sale of a puppy/dog the breeder should provide all buyers with a three (3) or more generation pedigree, including coat, eye color and indication of naturally bobbed tail occurrence (if known), diet and care information, health guarantees (including preliminary
    eye exam results) and inoculation record (including date and type of serum).
  6. A breeder should refrain from releasing a puppy until it is at least seven (7) weeks old.

Article 5: Advertising

  1. The breeder agrees that all advertising of puppies/dogs should be factual and honest in both substance and implication.
  2. The breeder should be cautious in encouraging buyers as to breeding potential as the breeding of Miniature Australian Shepherds is not to be taken lightly.

Article 6: Member Relations

  1. The exhibition of dogs being a sport, MASCA members shall be expected to express good sportsmanship in all activities involving the Miniature Australian Shepherd.
  2. MASCA members must refrain from unnecessary criticism of another person's dog(s).
  3. As a matter of ethics, the MASCA member pledges to help educate the general public as well as graciously assist the novice breeder
    in all with which he/she is familiar.

Article 7: Implementation

  1. Any infractions of this Code of Ethics should be reported, in writing, to the MASCA Board of Directors in accordance with the By-laws. Correspondence to the Board of Directors should be sent to: MASCA, PO Box 1692 Winter Park, FL 32790-1692
  2. Only when a breeder continues to deviate from these ideals and is not cooperative in rectifying an error will the situation be presented to the Board of Directors for disciplinary action.

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