The Cascade Northwest Bullmastiff Club, in keeping with its aims of encouraging the development of high quality Bullmastiffs, has adopted the following Ethics Guidelines to promote and foster the highest standards among breeders and owners; and to encourage cooperation in the improvement, advancement and protection of our breed. All members in good standing of the Cascade Northwest Bullmastiff Club subscribe to and uphold this set of Principles. Member Relations 1. Members shall be aware at all times that the Club exists to protect the breed and that these aims are to be uppermost in the minds of members in all their activities in the breed. 2. Members will at all times display good sportsmanship and conduct themselves in such a manner as to reflect credit upon the Club and the breed. 3. Members shall refrain from unnecessary and unconstructive criticism of another person’s dog and from personal attacks upon fellow members. 4. Novices are encouraged to seek the advice and assistance of more experienced owners and breeders and more experienced shall assist the novice in solving problems and share, for the good of the breed, the benefits of his or her knowledge. 5. In all questions, covered or not covered by this Guide, the individual member shall act solely in the best interests of the breed, and the membership as a whole shall aid any fellow member in upholding these interests. 6. Members agree to educate the public and represent the breed favorably at all times. Treatment 1. All Bullmastiffs owned by, or in the care of, members shall be given a proper healthy environment, nutrition, and care at all times. No member’s dog shall be treated in an inhumane manner, subjected to cruel or unusual punishment, and/or mentally or physically abused. Nor may they be subjected to any conditions likely to eventuate in unnecessary danger to the animal’s health. No member shall have more dogs than he or she has facilities to adequately keep. 2. Members shall be diligent in the handling of their dogs in public places and shall do so in a manner as to minimize the risk of trauma or danger to any human being or other animal. 3. Members recognize their responsibility to protect the name and reputation of the breed and shall not allow their dogs to roam at large, unsupervised; nor allow them to become a public nuisance or public trust. 4. Members agree to train their dogs in basic obedience. Sales 1. A breeder shall be discriminating in the sale of his or her pups and in the type of home in which they are placed. No member shall engage in wholesaling litters, or individual sales or consignments of pups or adults to pet shops, dealers, catalog houses or fundraising events, no matter how charitable. 2. A breeder shall accept responsibility for the pups produced by him or her for the life of those dogs, and shall be available to his or her buyers for whatever reasonable aid and assistance they may need. CNBC members shall help and support their fellow members in fulfilling this obligation. 3. A breeder should, for his or her protection and that of his or her buyers, provide adequate written contractual proof of sales and guarantees. No promise should be made orally which is not later put into writing. 4. Any animal sold under the designation pet/companion quality should be sold without registration papers and with a mandatory spay/neuter proviso. A breeder may supply registration papers upon proof of sterilization or upon reassessment of the animal as being of show and/or breeding quality. A pedigree should accompany the sale. 5. It is the moral obligation of member-breeders to guarantee pups produced and sold by them to be as represented. 6. Upon releasing the puppy, the breeder should follow these guidelines: a. He or she should provide information on the care of the puppy. b. He or she should supply up to date vaccination and worming records. c. He or she should release only pups that are in good health. d. He or she should request that buyers take their pup to a veterinarian of their choice upon receipt, and if the pup is deemed unhealthy, allow the buyers seventy-two (72) hours to return the pup, at breeder’s expense for a full refund. e. If the pup has not been seen by the buyer or his or her agent before shipping, the breeder shall allow the buyer forty-eight (48) hours to return the pup at the buyer’s expense if he or she is not satisfied that the pup is as represented by the breeder. Advertisement 1. All advertisement of puppies and adult dogs, written or oral, shall be factual and as forthrightly honest as possible in both substance and implication. 2. Advertising and promotion, written or oral, shall be confined to the aspects of the breeders stock and shall not degrade the stock of others. 3. The breeder shall be cautious in discussing the show and/or breeding prospects of any puppy for sale, lest he or she imply a guarantee of success which cannot be assured. 4. He or she shall be equally cautious in encouraging buyers as to breeding prospects, inasmuch as the breeding of a Bullmastiff is not to be undertaken lightly by any owner. Implementation 1. For reporting suspected misconduct and disciplinary actions refer to the CNBC Constitution and By-Laws, Sections (1) through (4) of ARTICLE VI. 2. Since this process has been established in part to prevent harmful gossip, any member who indulges in this sort of gossip rather than reporting the alleged violation for investigation will be judged in willful violation of the Code and will be subject to discipline. NEXT: CNBC Event Calendar...