The Greater Twin Cities Su-Mac Cairn Terrier Club (Su-Mac Club) is dedicated
to the preservation and improvement of the Cairn Terrier Breed as well as the
welfare of each Cairn Terrier.
The Su-Mac Club, through its Constitution, By-Laws, Code of Ethics, and
through its programs and events, provides the public and its members guidance
and support, presenting current information about health, care, training and
enjoyment of Cairn Terriers. This Code of Ethics is presented as a guideline
for the use of all Su-Mac Club members, those with pets and/or breeding
animals.
I. GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
Members of the Greater Twin Cities Su-Mac Cairn Terrier Club (Su-Mac Club)
pledge to:
1. Abide by the Constitution and Bylaws and the Code of Ethics of the
Su-Mac Club and the rules and regulations of the Cairn Terrier Club of
America (CTCA: www.cairnterrier.org) and the American Kennel Club (AKC:
www.akc.org)
2. Protect the integrity of the Cairn Terrier breed, and to promote the
improvement of the breed in accordance with the CTCA breed standard.
3. Promote the understanding and appreciation of the breed.
4. Foster a cooperative, helpful, and productive spirit at Su-Mac Club
meetings, dog shows, obedience and sporting trials, and other events.
5. Value and promote sportsman-like conduct and communication among Cairn
owners and breeders.
6. Encourage rescue programs for the Cairn Terrier breed to help ensure
that all Cairn Terriers have a good home.
7. Provide a clean, healthy, safe and otherwise positive environment for
Cairn Terriers and to ensure proper and regular veterinary exams and
care as appropriate. The Su-Mac club will provide information about
diseases, screening exams, and available treatments as new information
becomes available.
8. Advertise and otherwise communicate fairly, honestly and constructively
concerning dogs that we own, co-own, or otherwise have a personal
interest in.
II. GOALS FOR BREEDERS: BUSINESS ETHICS
As members of the Su-Mac Club, we value the confidence and trust others have
placed in us as club members and breeders of Cairn Terriers. Accordingly, we
are committed to excellence in our breeding programs, and forthrightness in
our dealings and transactions. We will:
1. To the best of our ability, disclose known conditions and special
circumstances of Cairn Terriers placed by us, including genetic
conditions, temperament and general behavior, soundness, record of
inoculations, and medical records. Within reason, we will strive to
disclose all information that would materially affect the health or value of
the Cairn, and will disclose all other information that a typical person under
the circumstances would consider important in the decision to purchase the
dog. The disclosure requirement includes only information that is reasonably
available to a typical Cairn breeder. It does not create a duty to provide
medical tests or evaluations beyond what is usual and customary for a Cairn
Terrier breeder, unless specifically requested by the purchaser.
2. Place in new homes Cairns that are in healthy condition with reasonable
prospects for continued good health. Puppies we place will be no younger than
10 weeks old, with 12 weeks as a minimum age recommended. We pledge not to
place Cairn Terriers with known conditions that are life threatening and/or
seriously detrimental to the animal’s well being such as blindness, deafness,
lameness or impairment of the vital functions without complete disclosure to,
and understanding of, the new owner.
3. Register as non-breeding stock those puppies or adults with known
disqualifying faults or known to be carriers of designated genetically-transmitted
conditions (see CTCA Committee on Health-Related Conditions) or to
retain registration documents until Buyers provide evidence that the placed
Cairn Terrier has been neutered/spayed. Otherwise, all puppies shall be
given registration with the AKC.
4. Offer no stud service to bitches without registrations and pedigrees, bitches
obtained from pet shops, brokers, or puppy mills. We offer no stud service to
owners who will not commit to neutering or spaying all resulting puppies,
except those placed in trusted "show" homes. Puppies placed as pets will be
sold neutered or spayed or with neuter/spay contracts and with limited
registrations.
5. Maintain readily accessible, accurate breeding records, registration
documents, DNA test results, pedigrees, health records and certificates (CERF,
eg), and all other pertinent documentation in accordance with the AKC rules,
regulations, and identification systems.
6. Provide purchasers of puppies with a required written purchase agreement that
includes all guarantees and any terms, conditions or limitations to the
guarantees, together with complete medical records and instructions for care
and feeding. Purchasers will be offered an accurate, minimum three-generation
pedigree.
7. Make available the benefit of our advice and experience, and to help educate
the public with regard to the standard and care of the Cairn Terrier.
Take responsibility for the welfare of the Cairn Terriers we have helped
produce, or any purebred Cairn Terriers we have owned and placed, for the
lives of the animals. We will take back and re-home any Cairn we have bred or
owned and placed or arrange for its care and re-homing, even if doing so is
inconvenient and/or costly. If need be, we will ask other Members for
assistance in this task. If the occasion arises, we will assist other
breeders upon learning that Cairn Terriers of their breeding need re-homing.
We will offer to assist these breeders in returning the Cairn Terriers to the
breeder or assist the breeders in finding new homes for the dogs.
8. We will include in all purchase agreements negotiated with all persons
purchasing a Cairn Terrier the requirement that, in the event the Cairn
Terrier must be re-homed, the breeder of the Cairn Terrier be contacted first
and allowed to:
(a) personally arrange re-homing of the Cairn Terrier or
(b) review and permit or not permit re-homing proposed by the current
owners. This “Right of First Refusal” is to be included in all purchase
agreements.
III. GOALS FOR BREEDERS: BREEDING PRACTICES
Members of the Su-Mac Club are committed to promoting quality in our breeding
of purebred Cairn Terriers and to doing all that is possible to bring their
natural qualities to perfection. We will:
1. Study thoroughly the breed standard of the Cairn Terrier as defined by the
Cairn Terrier Club of America and strive to breed dogs and bitches of
characteristic breed type, sound structure and temperament, which are free of
genetically-transmitted debilitating defects.
2. Base our breeding decisions upon moral, veterinary, ethical as well as
practical concerns, accepting responsibility for our actions in recognition
that as breeders we occupy a position of trust and responsibility to our breed
and its fanciers.
3. Retire Cairns with (a) known genetic problems or (b) that are clearly inferior
specimens, considering type, temperament, soundness, and other factors. We
will not breed carriers of genetic problems unless the breeding is conducted
reasonably, carefully, knowledgeably, and under controlled circumstances, and
as part of an overall good-faith program of line rehabilitation or
enhancement.
4. Retire from breeding status a Cairn Terrier dam or sire that has produced one
or more puppies with serious genetically-transmitted conditions detrimental to
the animal's well being, in each of two litters resulting from breedings with
two different partners.
5. Breed bitches only when they are of suitable age to be bred and of suitable
health. We will breed no bitch before her second season.
6. Request appropriate health tests of the stud (brucellosis, eg) prior to the
breeding of a bitch. Members offering dogs at stud will request similar
assurances (brucellosis, eg) of the bitches to be bred. In keeping with AKC
guidelines, males should not be used for breeding before they are seven months
of age.
7. Not breed a bitch unless we are prepared to keep the resulting puppies until
they are placed in permanent, loving homes. A breeding should never be done
entirely for monetary gain. Members offering a dog at stud should request
similar assurances, concerning care of pups, from bitch owners.
8. Keep and properly care for puppies until they are suitably placed. The Su-Mac
Club supports inoculating all puppies and adults with customary vaccines. A
record of all such inoculations will be provided to the purchaser prior to the
transfer of ownership. However, understanding that some breeders do practice
holistic medicine or otherwise limited vaccination programs and have a
bonafides objections to specific inoculations and inoculation schedules, a
full and prominent written disclosure of non-inoculations prior to transfer of
ownership will be acceptable.
9. Not engage in wholesaling, mass production, or distribution of Cairn Terriers
and from selling breeding stock to pet dealers or other commercial
distributors. We will not supply Cairn Terriers to raffles, lotteries or
prize-giving contests. Further, no Cairn Terrier will be sold to any resident
of a country or other location in which there is no protection by enforced
anti-cruelty laws. We will not engage in any similar activities that would
belittle or trivialize the Breed or place profit before home-based quality
care and breeding.
10. Screen prospective buyers of Cairn Terriers to ensure their suitability to own
and care for a Cairn Terrier. We will advise prospective buyers of the
characteristics of the breed and the need for grooming, exercise, and
veterinary exams and care.
11. Instruct buyers that they should contact the breeder in the event of a problem
with their Cairn Terrier. We will make a genuine effort to be of assistance
to buyers if a problem arises. (1)
Note 1: The sale of dogs is subject to consumer protection regulations. Minnesota State Law also
provides safeguards to protect pet dealers and animal purchasers (Puppy Lemon Law, Minnesota
Statutes, section 325.79)
The intent of the Su-Mac Club's Code of Ethics is to protect the welfare of
the Cairn Terrier and to provide education and guidance to its membership, our
pet families, and the general public. Members should bear in mind that
adherence to this Code of Ethics represents a commitment to a high standard of
practice in owning and breeding Cairn Terriers. This Code of Ethics details
certain minimum practices necessary to uphold the objectives of the Su-Mac
Club, as outlined in Article I, Section 2 of our Constitution and in the
Introduction to the Code.
Agreement to Abide by this Code of Ethics
To print the copy you need to sign and mail to our Club secretary,
Prospective or Continuing Member(s') Copy.
I (We), member(s) of a household, have read, understand and; as junior,
associate, or full members of the Club; agree to abide by the Su-Mac Club Code
of Ethics. Failure to abide this Code of Ethics may result in sanctions by the Su-Mac Club.
1. Signature ______________________________________ Date ___/ ___/ _______
Last name (please print): ______________________ First name: _______________
2. Signature ______________________________________ Date ___/ ___/ _______
Last name (please print): ______________________ First name: _______________
3. Signature _______________________________________Date ___/ ___/ _______
Last name (please print): _______________________First name: ______________
4. Signature _______________________________________Date ___/ ___/ _______
Last name (please print): ________________________First name: _____________
5. Signature _______________________________________Date ___/ ___/ _______
Last name (please print): ________________________First name: _____________
