United States of America Coton de Tuléar Club, Inc.

Code of Ethics

July 2010 - June 2011

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Preamble

The United States of America Coton de Tuléar Club, Inc., hereafter referred to as the USACTC, Inc, or the Club, is an organization devoted to the preservation and welfare of the Coton de Tuléar breed. With this in mind, the USACTC, Inc. has defined a standard of excellence for the breed by sponsoring exhibitions for the comparison and improvement of the breeding population and also for the education of our breeders. We provide breed specific information for judges, Coton owners, exhibitors and admirers. Our goal is to produce a Coton that is uniform in type, sound of mind and body, and suited to its purpose as a small versatile companion.

Dedicated, responsible breeders of the Coton de Tuléar, as distinguished from those who exploit the breed solely for profit, adhere to a set of ethical principles. The welfare of each individual Coton de Tuléar, as well as the welfare of the entire breed, governs our behavior in all aspects of breeding. The USACTC, Inc endorses the following guidelines as the ethical requirements for Coton de Tuléar breeders. The breeders’ responsibilities are in two parts. The first part is the USACTC, Inc guidelines for conducting an ethical breeding program. The second part is the requirement section, detailing the minimum requirements of a COE breeder.

Guidelines

Breeding

It is understood that the purpose for breeding the Coton de Tuléar is to produce a physically sound puppy which exhibits no clinical signs of illness, structural problems, or temperamental defects. The ultimate goal for the Coton breeder is for such puppies to become adult dogs that reflect the FCI standard in structure and character.

Every mating should be planned with the intention of improvement, yet preservation, of the breed. Type, temperament, health, co-efficient of inbreeding, age and the conformation of both sire and dam should be carefully considered in the planning of any breeding. This presupposes a careful study of the breed standard, the pedigrees of the mating dogs, and genetics. Breeders are strongly encouraged by the Club to perform health screening on breeding stock owned by them that includes, but is not limited to:

• Patellar evaluations
• Dilated eye exams by a certified veterinary ophthalmologist
• Cardiac Evaluations
• Radiographs of all major joints such as the hips and elbows
• Thyroid Screenings
• Full Blood Chemistry

With this in mind, performing tests on breeding stock of the first three of these health screening procedures is mandatory for USACTC Code of Ethics Breeders.

Kennel Management

1. Ethical breeders shall be physically and financially able to provide for the special health and nutritional needs of brood bitches and their litters before breeding a litter of Coton de Tuléar.
2. Breeders agree to maintain the best possible standards of canine health, sanitary living conditions, and veterinary care. Breeders agree to provide proper socialization and to provide a mentally stimulating environment for their dogs.
3. Breeders understand that all dogs owned by them should have some form of permanent identification, i.e. tattoo, microchip, and/or DNA profile.

Sales

1. Ethical breeders shall be discriminating in the placement of their Coton de Tuléar puppies. This includes thorough screening of all prospective buyers to determine their suitability for Coton de Tuléar ownership. The Club does NOT consider ethical any of the following practices:
   1. the over-breeding of bitches for profit, with no regard for the quality of the puppies or health of the female
   2. the consignment or sale outright to pet shops, catalogue houses, animal brokers, or other commercial sources of distribution
   3. the donation of Coton de Tuléar as prizes for raffles, auctions, or contests
   4. the wholesaling of Coton de Tuléar litters to puppy brokers and pet shops
2. Ideally, breeders should provide buyers instructions on care to include grooming, feeding, house-training, and complete health care. Coton de Tuléar puppies or adults released to the new owner (s) should be in good health to the best of the breeder’s knowledge. Breeders should be available to their buyers for consultation after completion of a sale. Breeders should always try to assist the serious novice in his/her understanding of the breed with regards to conformation, training, socialization, grooming, routine veterinary care, and in the exhibition of the Coton de Tuléar at conformation shows if they so choose.
3. Breeders will encourage each of their puppy buyers to apply for membership in the USACTC, Inc. with the breeder acting as the applicant’s sponsor.

Requirements of Code Of Ethics Breeders

By my signature at the end of this document, I hereby agree that:

1. I will abide by the Constitution and By-Laws of the United States of America Coton de Tuléar Club, Inc.
2. I will be a member in good standing of the USACTC and reside in the United States of America.
3. I will register every Coton I own and/or co-own (by 18 months old) and every litter produced by me (by 8 weeks old) with the United States of America Coton de Tuléar Club, Inc.
4. I will strongly advocate the registration of all puppies bred by me.
5. I will encourage new puppy buyers to join the USACTC and give them a USACTC Membership application with each puppy.
6. I recognize and understand that as a breeder, I have a lifetime responsibility for all puppies produced by my kennel. If, at any time, the owner of a puppy decides to relinquish that puppy, for any reason, I shall offer full assistance in placing the puppy in a good home.
7. I understand that I may place an animal which is ready for adoption with UCARE and I agree to provide financial assistance for this service.
8. I will maintain comprehensive and truthful records on every dog that I own and/or co-own as well as on every puppy that I produce.
9. I will perform screening and obtain normal results for my Cotons on OFA Congenital Cardiac exams, OFA Patellar Luxation exams and receive an assigned CERF number before breeding. Both Sire and Dam must complete the required health testing before the litter application will be processed. Listing permanent identification, i.e. tattoo, microchip, and/or DNA profile on these forms will be required. Individual cases outside these parameters will be considered on a case by case basis with supporting documentation from your veterinarian. I will only breed a bitch or stud that is in excellent physical condition and has full breeding registration.
10. As the owner of a stud dog, I agree that I will use a written contract for all stud service agreements and agree to sign a litter application form once the requirements of my stud agreement have been met. I will require that the bitch’s owner sell all resulting puppies that are of companion/non-breeding/limited quality with a spay/neuter agreement.
11. If a breeding occurs where a bitch has multiple partners either through a breeder’s intent or from an accidental breeding, then the breeder will perform DNA sampling of all male adults and all puppies so that paternity of each puppy is assured.
12. I will sell every Coton de Tuléar that is produced by me with a sales contract. I will sell all potentially breedable Coton de Tulear puppies with contracts requiring mandatory health testing. I will sell all non-breeding/limited registration Coton de Tuléar with a spay/neuter agreement.
13. I agree that any advertising of my Cotons, either verbal and/or written, will be truthful and shall in no way conflict with the goals of good breeding practices as set forth in this Code of Ethics.
14. I agree that if I am promoting the Coton de Tuléar through advertisements, that I will list the United States of America Coton de Tuléar Club, Inc. as my affiliated Parent Breed Club such as: USACTC, Inc. Code of Ethics Breeder.
15. I will observe the highest standards of sportsmanship, conduct and good will at conformation shows, obedience and agility trials and any other event involving the Coton de Tuléar.
16. I will be of assistance to all newcomers to the breed, if requested, so that they shall be guided in the way that will best serve the Coton de Tuléar.
17. I agree to be discriminating in the placement of my Coton de Tuléar. I agree to screen prospective buyers to determine their suitability for ownership of a Coton de Tuléar.

Exceptions

USACTC breeders may have ethical considerations they adhere to in addition to those mentioned here. It is recognized that legitimate exceptions to this Code of Ethics may arise from time to time. In cases such as this, a member may request the situation be reviewed by the President, or the President’s designee(s). The President (or designee) will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors. Furthermore, in certain cases, upon sufficient evidence and under conditions where the welfare of the breed is assured, the Board of Directors may waive any of the foregoing provisions.

Notice

I further understand that recognition in the directory is a privilege that is granted to me by the Executive Board of the USACTC, Inc.

I understand that approval granted by the board is based upon my agreement to follow the requirements listed above for Code of Ethics breeders.

This Code of Ethics is signed voluntarily. The fact that a breeder has agreed to follow this Code of Ethics does not constitute the Club’s endorsement of that breeder. I understand that members of the Board of Directors or Officers of the Club may not take an active part in decisions that personally affect them. I understand that if an ethical complaint is filed against me or my kennel that I will be able to dispute any allegation(s) in writing and appeal any sanction against me.

Prior to acceptance by the Board for listing in the Breeders’ Directory, I understand that I must complete the breeder’s application in its entirety, sign agreement and remit the necessary fees.

Having read, understood and agreed with the above guidelines and requirements I agree to abide by the above USACTC Code of Ethics to the best of my ability, putting the welfare and advancement of the Coton De Tuléar breed first and foremost, over and above my personal interests.