Rules & Regulations

1.The name of the Society shall be the “White and Long Coat German Shepherd Dog Society" and it's purpose for being shall be:

To promote the wellbeing, breeding and exhibiting of the White/Long Coat German Shepherd Dog and to further the knowledge of, and interest in the breed.

To assist breeders and owners of white or long coat German Shepherd Dogs by providing means of practical co-operation among them.

To exemplify good sportsmanship and unselfishness among all those interested in White and Long Coat German Shepherd Dogs.

To hold periodical or other meetings and to promote, hold or arrange Dog Shows, competitions and matches either independently or in conjunction with any person or persons, show or other committees, body or bodies.

To contribute out of the funds of the Society towards any charitable object and to promote Dog Shows or Exhibitions wholly or partly in aid of charity.

The Society shall form sections or Branches as and when necessary.

2. The Society shall consist of an unlimited number of members whose names shall be recorded by the Membership Secretary in a book set aside for that purpose.  This book shall be open for inspection at any General Meeting.  All new members shall be accepted provisionally on payment of the annual subscription.  Their membership shall be on a one year probationary term and subject to approval by the members of the Society over that probationary year.  In the event of the election not being confirmed the subscription shall be returned in full.

3.The affairs of the Society shall be invested in a Committee consisting of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster with the power to co-opt a specialist in any field or to fill any vacancy that may occur. 

The Committee shall retire after three years but will be eligible for re-election.  All nominees for the Committee shall have been members of the Society for the previous twelve months.  The Executive Officers of the Committee and Auditors shall be appointed by the Committee.  Meetings shall be called by the Secretary in collaboration with the Chairperson at such times as the business on hand necessitates giving the Committee Members at least fourteen days notice in writing of the date, time, venue and agenda.

A quorum shall consist of at least 50% of the Committee.

All members of the Committee elected to the Committee to fill vacancies shall only serve the unexpired period of office.  The term ‘year’ includes the period between one AGM and the following AGM.

All members shall receive by post not less than fourteen days notice of the Annual General Meeting and any resolution to be placed on the Agenda of this meeting is to be forwarded in writing to the Secretary prior to an appointed date.

   4. The Annual General Meeting shall:

                              (a) Elect a Committee for the ensuing three years.

              (b) Confirm the appointment of Auditors for the ensuing year.

(c) Receive audited accounts for the preceding year.

A statement of accounts shall be furnished to all members at the AGM.

  5. Special General Meetings may be called specifying the exact business of the meeting at which discussions must be confined to the matter in hand.

Reasonable notice of such a meeting shall be sent to all members.

 6. The Annual General Meeting shall be subject to review by the Committee and put to the AGM as necessary.  In addition to the basic single subscription, joint membership is to be available to households at a reduced sum.  There will also be a reduced membership available to OAP’s and Juniors up to the age of 18 years but it must be realised that members under the age of 18 years have no voting rights.

Subscriptions shall be paid on or before 1st January each year.  No member shall be permitted to compete for any of the Society’s trophies, or to vote, unless his subscription has been paid

Any trophies won by members must be returned in good condition by the set date agreed on collection of the trophy.  Failure to do this must result in payment for the replacement of the trophy in question at the current market price.

   7. Banking Accounts shall be opened in the name of the Society, into which all the revenue of the Society shall be paid and from which withdrawals shall only be made on the signatures of two unrelated Executive Officers.  There may also be Branch Bank Accounts opened in the name of the Society, withdrawals to be made through Branch Representative only.

8. Anyone who is, or has been, disciplined or suspended by the KC shall not be allowed membership to this Society whilst any penalty imposed is in force.  Membership may be re-applied for after the expiry of any penalty and may be granted at the Committee’s discretion.

If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee, be injurious to the character or interests of the Society, the Committee may convene a meeting, the notice of which specifies as an item the consideration of the members conduct.  A special meeting may then be called for the purpose of passing a resolution expelling that member.  Notice of the meeting and correspondence shall be sent to the accused member, giving particulars as to the complaint and advising him/her of the place, date and hour so that he may either write or attend and offer an explanation.  If at the special meeting a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Committee present and voting, his/her name shall be forthwith erased from the list of members and shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Society.

  9. Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded and those of the last  meeting shall be read at the subsequent, equivalent meeting.

  10. The Committee shall have the power to deal with and dispose of any urgent matters that may arise and which are not provided for in these rules.

   11. The Society cannot dissolve without the consent of the Members in writing confirmed at two Special General Meetings at which some person or persons shall be appointed to dispose of the property of the Society to the best advantage and the proceeds together with any surplus funds shall be donated to some Charity as may be decided.  In the event of dissolution all trophies in the outright ownership of the Society shall be disposed of at the discretion of the Committee.

   12. The membership has the right to appeal against a decision of the Committee.  This must be made in writing to the Committee within one month of the decision being made.  In the event of an appeal by the membership, the Committee must reconvene in order to review their decision.

    13. In all matters of dispute the decision of the Committee shall be final.

           All decisions relating to the Society must be agreed by the Committee.

 14. The rules of the Society shall not be altered except at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.

SUGGESTED CODE OF ETHICS

With the dedication to the improvement of our breed at heart, I will try to maintain the following standards :

     1. My dogs will be kept in the best possible standard of health and environment, not          keeping more dogs than I can properly look after.

    2. My dogs will not be sold to any Dealer or anyone who I do not feel would look after the animal correctly.

   3. All accurate records, including KC Registration and Pedigree will be given to all Buyers of stock, also advice that may be required.  As a responsible Breeder, I recognise that I am also responsible for puppies bred by me after sale and should one require to be rehomed I will either take it back or if this is not possible, do all in my power to find it a new home.

  4. To advise the purchasers of any of my puppies that it is in their interest and my own to take said puppy to a Veterinary Surgeon within 48 hours of purchase to be examined. Should puppy be declared by Veterinary Surgeon as unfit, the puppy should be returned and monies refunded.

    5. To sell only puppies and adult dogs sound in mind and body.

    6. The Breeder should offer contractual terms to the Buyer to cover themselves in the possibility of serious hereditary ailments liable to lead to the necessity of the puppy either having to be put down or returned to the Breeder.

    7. To not knowingly sell an epileptic dog and to agree to hip x-ray (adult dog) if desired by the Buyer.  Buyer to pay or ‘buy as seen.’

     8. Not to use a stud dog which is known to be epileptic or suffering from any serious defect in mind and body.  Also not to use a bitch who suffers thus.

     9. If a bitch fails to conceive, to allow a repeat service at no extra charge, provided both dogs are in good health and available.

    10. To breed for the improvement of the breed and not just for sale.

    11. Not to breed a bitch unless over the age of 18 months and under 8 years, in excellent health, breeding a maximum of one litter a year from a bitch.

IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT

   (a) All dogs/bitches which are x-rayed and scored under the KC/BVA Scheme that are to    be used for breeding purposes should fall within the score range as laid down by the  KC/BVA guidelines, also, that hip scoring be solely at the discretion of the owners personal convictions.

(b) No young puppies be brought to WALCSS shows.  No puppy sales allowed at Society Shows without prior arrangement with Society Committee.

    (c) No mating of bitches at Society Shows.  No bitches in season at Society Shows.

    (d) The Committee has the right to dismiss anyone from Society shows who is not abiding    by the rules and code of the Society.