The International Miniature Australian Shepherd Club, INC (IMASC) in keeping with its paramount constitutional aim of breeding the Miniature Australian Shepherd for all outstanding qualities and to preserve the size variety of the Miniature Australian Shepherd, has adopted the following Code of Ethics to promote and foster the highest standards among breeders, owners, and fanciers; and to encourage good sportsmanship and cooperation in the improvement and advancement of the size variety. All members of IMASC subscribe to and uphold this Code of Ethics.
Article 1: Records
1. Each member who breeds his/her bitch or uses his/her stud for services must keep accurate records of stock, such as stud services, pedigrees, all litters produced, sales of dog/puppies, all exchanges involving Miniature Australian Shepherds for a minimum of five (5) years.
2. Any member who falsifies a registration or knowingly misrepresents a pedigree should be reported to the IMASC Board of Directors.
Article 2: Breeding
1. A breeder should plan each breeding with the paramount intention of improving the Miniature Australian Shepherd.
2. A breeder should select a stud and matron with an eye to conformation, temperament, working ability with careful study of the IMASC Standard, pedigrees and basic principles of genetics.
3. A breeder shall refrain from breeding any dog or bitch under the age of 12 months. Offspring of any dog or bitch under the age of 9 months will not be eligible for registration. 2 years is the preferred minimum age for breeding any dog or bitch.
4. Before entering into any breeding agreement, a breeder must scrutinize the conformation, pedigrees, and abilities of both sire and dam, keeping in mind the ideal Miniature Australian Shepherd, as described in the IMASC Standard.
5. A breeder should refuse any breeding if, in his/her opinion it is not in the best interest of the Miniature Australian Shepherd. Should he/she refuse any breeding , an explanation of his/her reasoning should be given to the owner. A breeder should use only those individuals that are free from de- fects such as monorchidism, cryptorchidism, deafness, hereditary eye and hip defects, and any other genetic defects. A breeder must further refrain from breeding any individual dog, who although free from defects, consistently produces afflicted puppies.
Article 3: Health
1. A breeder must maintain high standards of health care and shelter for his/her dogs and guarantee the health of puppies at time of sale.
Article 4: Sales
1. A breeder must be discriminatory in the sale of his/her puppies and be concerned with the type of homes in which they are placed. A breeder must thoroughly screen all prospective puppy buyers. With this in mind, Miniature Australian Shepherds should not be sold to wholesalers or retailers such as pet shops or at auctions.
2. A breeder should, for his/her own protection as well as that of the buyer, provide adequate written contractual proof of sale and guarantees.
3. A breeder should provide a minimum of 1 year written guarantee against handicapping congenital defects on all puppies sold, and additionally on the sale of breeding stock he/she should guarantee against all hereditary defects and disqualifying faults according to the IMASC Standard for a like period of time. In addition he/she should limit registration, provide a spay/neuter contract or provide early spay/neuter on all puppies sold as pets only and be willing to take back or help find alternative homes for any dog of his/her breeding in the event the buyer maybe unable at any point to provide proper care for it.
4. A breeder should transfer all applicable registration papers at the time the purchase agreement is completed and agreeable to both parties.
5. Upon sale of puppy/dog the breeder should provide all buyers with a 3 or more generation pedigree, diet and care information, health certificate from Licensed Veterinarian, full medical record and health guarantee.
6. A breeder shall refrain from releasing a puppy until it is at least 8 weeks old.
Article 5: Advertising
1. The breeder agrees that all advertising of puppies/dogs should be factual and honest in both substance and implication.
2. The breeder shall be cautious in encouraging buyers as to breeding potential as the breeding of Miniature Australian Shepherds is not to be taken lightly.
Article 6: Member Relations
1. The exhibition of dogs being a sport, IMASC members shall be expected to express good sportsmanship in all activities involving the Miniature Australian Shepherd.
2. IMASC members must refrain from unnecessary criticism of another person’s dog(s).
3. As a matter of ethics, the IMASC member pledges to help educate the general public as well as graciously assist the novice breeder in all with which he/she is familiar.
Article 7: Breed
1. Member(s) agree that the Miniature Australian Shepherd is not a new breed, or derived from another breed, but is a size variety if the Australian Shepherd.
Article 8: Implementation
1. Any infractions of this Code of Ethics should be reported, in writing, to the IMASC Board of Directors in accordance with the By-Laws. Correspondence to the Board of Directors should be sent to the IMASC address on the front of this application.
2. Only when a breeder continues to deviate from these ideals and is not cooperative in rectifying an error will the situation be presented to the Board of Directors for disciplinary action.
3. Any member guility of animal cruelty shall be denied or removed from membership to IMASC.