Cavaliers of Greater Kalamazoo

We, the CKCSC of Greater Kalamazoo adhere to the American Kennel Club’s General Ethical Guidelines. Their rules apply to this club and its members as well as anyone accepting AKC jurisdiction.

We, the CKCSC of Greater Kalamazoo adhere to the Ethical Guidelines of our parent club, the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club (ACKCSC):We ask our members to endeavor to comply with Ethical Guidelines & Recommended Practices based on the following: 

• To maintain the health and well-being of their dogs.
• To breed from sound stock of good temperament, taking advantage of available health screenings.
• To exercise every possible precaution as to the placement of puppies and to only sell or place puppies and/or older dogs to homes where there is a reasonable expectation of a healthy and happy life and never knowingly to sell to commercial dog wholesale or retail dealers or their agents.
• To take back or help to re-home any unwanted Cavalier they have bred.
• To be considerate of others including good sportsmanship, helping novices, being truthful in representing your own dogs for sale or breeding, attempting to breed and show to the standard as approved by the American Kennel Club.

Purpose Statement for the CKCSC of Greater Kalamazoo’s Ethical Guidelines 

Improve and protect the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; and promote good breeding practices among the members  

Ethical Guidelines: Principles of Practice Integrity Guidelines:

 The following principles of practice are presented with the full realization that ethical practices cannot be legislated and that reputable owners, breeders and handlers desire and intend to do what is for the betterment of the breed.

Therefore, these are set forth principles of practice that the CKCSC of Greater Kalamazoo endorses as they strive to accomplish the club’s goals and objectives so clearly stated in the Bylaws.

These guidelines present the minimum in ethical practices; how best to conform to these practices is better left to the educational efforts of individuals and their veterinary practitioners and specialists.

In keeping with membership guidelines in the CKCSC of Greater Kalamazoo and our dedication to further its stated purpose, we support the following recommended practices and guidelines for integrity. 

Principles of Practice:

General Practices-

• Members will ensure that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in their care are provided adequate food, shelter, human companionship and medical care.
• Members will understand the basic laws of genetics, the breed standard and the difference between the correct and incorrect before attempting to breed.
• Members will follow the AKC breed standard and recommended practices, while exhibiting their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and/or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in their care.
• Members will adhere to the rules of the AKC, while exhibiting; Members will practice the principles of good sportsmanship.
• Members will assist fellow members in any way that they can.
• Members will at all times educate and offer guidance to anyone sincerely interested in this breed and/or refer them to the appropriate club resource.
• Members understand that the overall well-being of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a breed is paramount to this club.

Integrity Guidelines-

• Members will honestly represent their puppies/dogs.
• Members will not use misleading or deceptive advertising.
• Members will discourage anyone from breeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels without specific guidance and goals.
• Members understand that their guidance and goals development should be in harmony with the betterment of the breed.
• Members will never broker puppies/dogs for anyone regardless of club affiliation or credentials.
• Members will not act as a middleman in a sale, thereby allowing the sale of a puppy and/or dog without the breeder of the animal having direct communication with the ultimate owner.
• Members will not purchase a dog for resale.
• Members will not receive a commission from a sale of a puppyand/or dog.
• Members will educate and offer guidance to individuals sincerely interested in our breed and/or refer them to the appropriate club resource and/or representative.

Recommended Guidelines for Breeding Females-

• Before breeding a female, members will confirm that the bitch is registered with AKC or registered with a recognized foreign registry; the breeder will study the AKC breed standard and breed only specimens that are within that standard and for the improvement of the breed.
• Members will not breed a female until her second heat, preferably when over 2 years of age in accordance with MVD breeding recommendations.
• Members will not breed any female once she has reached 8 years of age.
• Members will not breed any female unless members are prepared to keep all puppies for which members cannot find suitable homes.
• Members will spay females determined not suitable for breeding. 
• Members will make certain that any female placed in a pet home is placed with restricted papers and a spay agreement.
• Members will make certain that females are screened by a board certified cardiologist for mitral valve disease (with annual cardiac screening in accordance to MVD breeding recommendations), board certified ophthalmologist for inherited eye disorders and a licensed veterinary practitioner for patellar luxation.
• If a female is within normal limits for MVD, inherited eye disorders  and patellar luxation.  A member may choose to breed her following these guidelines.
• If a female’s screening results are not within normal limits for these disorders, a member will consult with veterinary specialists for cardiac or eye issues and/or practitioner for patellar issues prior to breeding her.
• Members understand it is encouraged to have their females participate in hip improvement programs.

Recommended Guidelines for Stud Dogs-

• Before placing a dog at stud, members will confirm that the dog is registered with AKC or registered with a recognized foreign registry; the breeder will study the AKC Breed Standard and breed a dog that within that standard and for the improvement of the breed.
• Members will neuter dogs determined not suitable for breeding. Members will make certain that any dog placed in a pet home is placed with restricted papers and a neuter agreement.
• Members will not offer stud services to any persons who do not take sincere ethical measures to protect and improve the breed, or to any persons who would place puppies without spay and neuter contracts.
• Members will make certain that their stud dogs are screened by board certified cardiologists for MVD (with annual cardiac screenings in accordance with the MVD breeding recommendations), board certified ophthalmologist for inherited eye disorders and a licensed veterinary practitioner for patellar luxation.
• If the stud dog is within normal limits for MVD, inherited eye disorders and patellar luxation. The member may choose to breed him following these guidelines.
• If stud dog’s screening results are not within normal limits for these disorders, the member will consult with veterinary specialists for cardiac and eye issues and/or practitioner for patellar issues prior to breeding him.
• Members understand it is encouraged to have studs participate in hip improvement programs

Recommended Guidelines for selling puppies-

• Members will be discriminate in the placement of all Cavalier puppies or dogs that they bred.
• Members will not place puppies/dogs in pet shops, with animal brokers or persons who sell/buy/import in litter lots.
•  Members will not donate puppies/dogs for raffles or contests.
• Members will not release puppies to new homes before 8 weeks of age, with prefer age being 10-12 weeks or older.
• Members will provide their puppies with immunizations and parasite control appropriate for their age before releasing to their new homes.
• Members will provide full instructions to new owners on the care and feeding of their puppies/dogs.
• Members understand that it is advised that puppies be examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to leaving for their new homes and that the veterinary health certificates be provided to the new owner(s).
• Members understand it is recommended to have puppies screened by a board certified ophthalmologist for inherited eye disorders.
• Members will place all pet quality puppies with restricted AKC papers and spay/neuter contracts.
• In the event that a puppy/dog that a member place cannot be kept by the buyer, the sales contract will state that the puppy/dog will be returned to member or that member will assist in finding a suitable home for the puppy/dog.