The British Chihuahua Club Rules
Name and Objects
The Club shall be called "THE BRITISH CHIHUAHUA CLUB". Its objects shall
be:
- To promote interest in, and to encourage the breeding and exhibiting of,
Chihuahuas;
- To maintain a high standard in the breed by following the description as laid
down in the official standard adopted by the Kennel Club; and
- To assist members to co-operate in the best interests of the breed.
Constitution and Management
The Club shall consist of a President, an unlimited number of Vice-Presidents,
Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, a Committee of eight
(excluding ex-officio) and an unlimited number of members, whose names and addresses
shall be entered in a book and kept up to date by the Honorary Secretary. The
list of members and their addresses shall be available for inspection if so requested
by the members of the Club or by the Kennel Club.
In the event of the services of an Honorary Secretary not being available, the
Committee shall have the power to appoint a paid Secretary, should this be deemed
necessary. This appointment to be confirmed as acceptable by the membership at the
following Annual General Meeting.
The President shall be appointed by the Committee and shall hold office for a period
of three years, after which period he/she shall not be eligible for reappointment until
another member has served the required three years. The Vice Presidents shall be
invited by the Committee.
The Officers and Committee shall be elected annually by means of a postal ballot.
The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer shall be
ex-officio members of the Committee and together with the Committee shall retire annually,
all being eligible for re-election. All shall be required to pay the annual
subscription and all shall be entitled to vote. In the event of a tie the Chairman shall
also have an additional casting vote.
There shall be a Committee, which shall be the managing body of the Club, composed of the
Chairman, Vice Chairman, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and the Committee
of eight members.
The Committee shall have the power to co-opt any other member or members to fill any
vacancy which may arise on the Committee; also to co-opt any non-members, up to a maximum
of three, to assist the Committee in any special matter, if deemed necessary, at any time.
Meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Honorary Secretary as and when may be deemed
necessary. Six shall form a quorum, one of which shall be an officer of the Club.
Candidates for membership of the Club shall be nominated and seconded by two fully
paid-up members who shall sign the nomination form, and after the approval of the Committee,
shall be admitted upon payment of the annual subscription or the Compounded subscription.
The Rules of this Club shall not be altered except at an Annual General Meeting or Special
General Meeting. Any alterations to the Rules passed at an Annual General Meeting or Special
General Meeting shall, in accordance with Kennel Club Rules, not be brought into force until
the Kennel Club has been advised and given its approval. (Mandatory rule changes
required by the `Kennel Club will automatically be deemed as routine/urgent for the purposes
of the above).
Subscription
The annual subscription shall be £5.00 for single membership and £8.00 joint
membership, payable to the Honorary Treasurer on the 1st January each year. No member whose
subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any of the privileges of membership. If any member
fails to pay the annual subscription by 1 March, the Committee shall have the power to erase
his/her name from the list of members. Subscription rates for overseas members shall be
£8.00 (single membership) £12.00 joint per year.
Members may pay a Compound Subscription. Payment of a sum equivalent to ten times the
relevant current annual subscription shall entitle the member to twelve years membership.
Members paying the Compound Subscription shall be sent a reminder to renew their membership by
the Treasurer in the final year of their twelve-year term. Current Life Members as at 21
November 1992 shall retain Life Membership status.
Judges
A list of names of judges of the breed approved by the Club shall be kept by the Honorary
Secretary. Appointments to be made by the judges sub-committee. Names of those
proposed to be sent in writing to the Club Secretary. The selection of judges for all Club
Shows will be made by the judges' sub-committee. Members of the judges sub-committee will
not exhibit at Club Open and Championship Shows. Officers and members of the committee of
the BCC will not be appointed to judge Breed Classes at a Club Show, other than in the capacity
of Referee or Best In Show; or in an emergency where the appointed judge has to withdraw within
48 hours of the show.
Club Accounts
The Honorary Treasurer shall make all payments into the Club's Bank account and all
payments from the account shall be made by the Honorary Treasurer, whose signature
together with that of the Chairman or the Honorary Secretary shall be accepted as
authority for payment when drawing cheques. A qualified auditor shall be appointed
annually by the Committee and shall prepare a statement of accounts, a copy of which
shall be supplied to all members at the Annual General Meeting. The Honorary Treasurer
shall be authorised to pay the auditor's fee from the Club funds. Those certifying the
accounts must be independent of the Committee.
Club Property
The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee and in the event of the Club
ceasing to exist, a General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of any assets.
The Committee shall be responsible for all Cups, Trophies and similar articles. All
cups and trophies donated shall be the Club's property unreservedly.
General Business
The financial year of the Club shall be from 1st April to 31st March.
The Annual General Meeting shall be held within 3 months of the end of the financial
year, for the following purposes:
- To receive the report of the retiring Committee and statement of accounts.
A copy of the annual Statement of Accounts to be made available on request to members
14 days prior to the AGM. Additionally the annual statement of accounts will be
available for inspection by members at the Annual General Meeting;
- To announce the results of the Postal Ballot electing Officers
and Committee; and
- To discuss any motion duly placed on the Agenda of which prior
notice has been given to the Honorary Secretary.
Not less than fourteen clear days notice shall be given in writing of the
Annual General Meeting. This notice may be given in the canine press.
Such notice must contain all
the relevant information concerning the meeting and business to be conducted.
Twelve shall form a quorum at any General Meeting, the Chairman
shall have a casting vote.
Nominations for the offices of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary,
Honorary Treasurer, and the Committee of eight for the ensuing year, together
with any items for the Agenda, must be submitted to the Honorary Secretary not
later than the 15th March. The nominee's written consent to take office,
if elected, must also be submitted to the Honorary Secretary not later than 15th
March. The proposer, seconder and nominee must all be fully paid up
members of the British Chihuahua Club.
That no British Chihuahua Club Officer or Committee Member shall
serve on any other Chihuahua Breed Club as a Committee Member
or Official.
No member shall be entitled to vote who has not been a paid up
member for one year.
No member can stand for any office or the committee who has not
been a member for three consecutive years.
Husband and wife, or partners residing at the same address, cannot become
officers of the Committee at the same time as each other. They can
still however serve as members on the same committee.
Candidates for the Office of Chairman must be selected from the
serving Officers and Committee.
A ballot paper containing the names of those retiring Officers and Committee
members who seek re-election, and the names of any other candidates who have
been duly nominated in accordance with the foregoing provisions, will be
dispatched by the Honorary Secretary to each member together with the formal
notice of the Annual General Meeting. The ballot papers must be marked
with a number allocated to each member, and the member must return it by post
in the enclosed envelope which will be marked "Ballot" not later
than the date stated on the ballot paper.
The Committee shall appoint non-members to act as tellers, who
shall deliver the result of the ballot to the Chairman, in a sealed
envelope, prior to the Meeting.
A ballot paper will be invalidated if, for a reason in the opinion of the
tellers, it fails to clearly indicate the member's selections.
No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee
of, or hold any other office or appointment within, a Kennel Club
Registered Society.
Special General Meetings
A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Committee or by
the Honorary Secretary on receiving a requisition signed by not less
than 20 members stating the business to be discussed. No business
other than the matter on the Agenda may be discussed at a Special
General Meeting.
Fourteen days' notice shall be given to members of a Special General
Meeting which shall be held at such time and place as the Committee
shall appoint.
In the event of the Committee deciding that a postal Ballot should
take place on a motion to come before a Special General Meeting,
a ballot paper stating the motion shall be sent by the Honorary
Secretary to each member together with the formal notice of such
Special General Meeting. The ballot paper must be marked with a
number allocated to each member and the member must return it
by post, in the enclosed envelope marked
"Ballot" in order to reach the Honorary Secretary not
later than the date (postmark) stated on the ballot paper. A
Special General Meeting postal ballot shall be supervised by the
Chairman and tellers appointed at the Meeting to assist him/her.
A ballot paper will be invalidated if, for any reason in the
opinion of the Chairman and the tellers, it does not clearly indicate
how the member's vote is cast.
A ballot taking place at any General Meeting shall be supervised
by the Chairman presiding at the Meeting, and tellers appointed
to assist him.
No motion may be discussed or voted upon at any Committee or
General Meeting unless the proposer and seconder are present to
formally move and second the motion, except in special
circumstances if the Chairman so advises.
Overseas Members
No member domiciled outside the British Isles shall be entitled
to vote on any issue.
Expulsion of Members
Any Member who shall be suspended under the Kennel Club Rule A11j(5)
and/or under Kennel Club
Rule A11j(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Club.
If the conduct
of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Club, be
injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interest of the
Club, the Committee of the Club may, at a meeting (the notice convening
which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the
member) determine that a Special General Meeting of the Club shall be
called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her.
Notice of the Special General Meeting shall be sent to the accused member
giving particulars of the complaint and advising him/her of the place,
date and hour of the meeting that he/she may attend and offer an
explanation. If, at that meeting, a resolution to expel is passed
by a two thirds majority of the members present and voting his/her name
shall be forthwith erased from the list of members of the Club and he/she
shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the Club (except
that he/she may within two calendar months from the date of such meeting
appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the
Kennel Club may impose).
Rescue
The Committee shall be empowered to establish a Rescue scheme (BCCRA) British
Chihuahua Club Rescue Association and to appoint a responsible person or persons
from their number to operate the scheme, hereinafter referred to as Rescue
Coordinator(s). A separate Rescue Fund Account shall be established for
the BCCRA withdrawals from which shall only be made on the signature
of the Treasurer and an Officer of the BCCRA.
Code of Ethics
(As amended by direction of The Kennel Club)
Membership of the Club shall imply acceptance of the Club's Code of
Ethics. Members:
- will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange
for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
- will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon who performs an operation on
any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries
out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operation to the Kennel Club.
- will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the
Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
- will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
- will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
- will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the
dog or to the breed.
- will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or
those carrying out official duties.
- will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or
under effective control when away from home.
- With effect from 6 April 2016 it is law for all dogs over 8 weeks of age to be microchipped
- will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being
exhibited;
- will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life
and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change;
- will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning
responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home;
- will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when
selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant
documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available;
- will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or
indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any
kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as
stand alone items (not accompanying a dog);
- will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise
dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.
In addition to the above Kennel Club provisions, members
- shall not mate any bitch that is less than 12 calendar months of age;
- shall not mate a bitch aged more than 8 years of age;
- shall not mate a bitch after it has had 4 litters. As from the 1st January
2012 The Kennel Club will not register more than 4 litters from each bitch;
- shall not sell, or allow to leave their premises, puppies which are less than
12 weeks of age;
- shall not have more than two cæsarian sections on any one bitch and these
must not be on two consecutive seasons. As from 1st january 2012 The Kennel Club
will no longer register puppies born either by cæsarian section or naturally from
any bitch which has previously had two such operations;
- shall not mate any bitch for more than two consecutive seasons.
- No member shall knowingly abandon any dog, bitch or puppy.
Publication in the Kennel Club Breed Records Supplement shall be
required as proof of the facts.
Members who breach the code of ethics shall be sent a letter of
warning by the Committee. Persistent breaches shall make the
member liable to expulsion for conduct injurious to the interests
of the Club in the manner detailed by these Rules under the heading
"Expulsion of Members."
Kennel Club
Members shall recognise the Kennel Club as the final Court of
Appeal in all matters of dispute and shall be willing to abide by all
the Rules and Regulations laid down by the Kennel Club.
The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year
Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the
Secretary for continuance of registration and that by 31st July each
year, other returns, as stipulated in the Kennel Club Regulations for
the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies & Breed
Councils ... will be forwarded to the Kennel Club. The Officers also
acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any change of
Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the
year.
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