The first annual BCCS AGM was held at the end of September - but due to some unforeseen delays the minutes have only just been released. This document sets out the future of the BCCS and our direction for the next year. Please read and comment - ready for votes next meeting!
PDF attached for better viewing
British Cane Corso Society
First Annual General Meeting
27th September 2009
Minutes of Meeting
1. Constitution
Each point of the constitution was discussed at length and four amendments were made in sections 11, 14 and 15. Also, grammatical errors were amended throughout and wording was clarified. The amended constitution is attached. The amended constitution will also be a permanent fixture on the BCCS website.
2. Interim Committee and Officers
Each member present voted on the people that were put forward either on the day or through the FOCC, the shortlist was as follows:
Officers
Jo Lueck
Ali Bark
Anna Osborne
Committee
Nathan
Andrew
Marc
Terry
Carlie
Keith
Jolyon
John
Roy
Theresa
Nicola
The results were as follows:
Officers
President Jo Lueck
Vice President Ali Bark
Committee
Anna Osborne
Nathan
Marc
Terry
Carlie
Theresa
The Board then selected Anna Osborne as Secretary, and Theresa Wakeman as Treasurer.
3. Ethics
After much debate it was decided that the ethics statement for members of the BCCS be based on the Kennel Club ethics statement obtained from their website, minus the paragraph about docking.
The paragraph is as follows:
“Membership of the club is only given with acceptance and compliance with this and the Kennel Club Code of Ethics and applies whether owner, keeper, or in temporary charge of any dog for any purpose. All members will accept their responsibility in that they will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required, not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to those carrying out official duties, when their dogs are away from home they shall ensure that their dogs wear collars with appropriate identification information and shall be kept fully leashed or under effective control. Members will acknowledge responsibility to clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.”
4. Approved Breeder Scheme
The Code of Ethics for a breeder wanting to join the BCCS and register puppies is as follows:
Care of Stock
• Each dog should receive daily exercise.
• Each dog should have access to fresh water at all times.
• Each dog should be adequately fed.
• The breeder must assure adequate hygiene of food preparation area and vessels.
• All dogs must be provided warm and dry sleeping quarters.
• All dogs must receive adequate and prompt veterinary care.
Breeding Practice
• All breeding stock should be hip scored under the BVA. Elbow scoring is also strongly recommended. Using the chart below as a guideline to what scores are acceptable to breed from, the BCCS, in line with much of Europe, will not offer registration of a litter with parents scored higher than a European D (combined 51-106 BVA).
Excellent 0-4 max 3/hip A-1
Good 5-10 max 6/hip A-2
Fair 11-18 B-1
Borderline 19-25 B-2
Mild 26-35 C
Moderate 36-50 D
Severe 51-106 E
• Maximum age to breed from is 8 years old
• Minimum age to breed from is 2 years old
• Minimum age for pups to leave the breeder is 8 weeks
• Clean and hygienic facilities around puppies and whelping bitches
• Breeder must not knowingly breed from any dog with a serious genetic fault e.g. epilepsy, heart problems.
• Breeder is to ensure the puppies are thoroughly socialized before going into their new homes.
• Pups must have 1st vaccination before leaving breeder’s facilities.
• All pups must be microchipped before leaving breeder premises and registered with the BCCS.
• If artificial insemination is used, proof of insemination must be shown in the form of signed affidavit from vet or other professional independent party.
• Breeders must not breed from close relatives (sibling or parent))
• Breeders are discouraged from breeding dogs for the Christmas market.
• Each bitch must be allowed a minimum of one season between litters.
• Breeders should make best effort to assist with rescue and the rehoming of their own stock should they be returned.
Customer Care
• Breeders must be able to explain their aims and reasons for a mating.
• Breeder should always show puppy’s parents’ hereditary health screening certificates
• Each owner to receive adequate puppy pack in line with that offered by the BCCS.
• All pups to be sold with a contract in line with that offered by the BCCS.
• Breeder must provide reasonable post sales support for new owners
• Breeder must either take back unwanted, returned dogs & puppies or make best efforts to re-home them.
• The breeder must make best efforts at correct owner selection.
• All new owners must be recommended to join the Friend of Cane Corso website for owner support.The breeder must fully disclose any minor cosmetic faults the parents carry, eg. cherry eye, entroprion etc
• The breeder must provide the new owners with insurance when the puppy leaves the breeders’ facilities.
Puppy Pack
The puppy pack (noted above) must contain at a minimum:
Basic diet sheet
Tips on socialisation
Tips on basic training
Immunisation card
Worming record
BCCS Registration Certificate
If an approved breeder is under scrutiny for not upholding the code of ethics then the committee will vote as to if they stay an approved breeder, if it is found that they are removed from the list they will be recorded as “de-listed” on the BCCS approved breeder website and documentation.
ACTION Jolyon Stead is to go and research line breeding, the percentages of acceptablilty around the world for a presentation at the next meeting. Countries to investigate are Sweden and Russia in particular.
5. Rescue Policy
Official Policy
“The British Cane Corso Society believes in fostering and in-situ assessment, rather than long term kennelling of rescue dogs. In-home support and care is used whenever possible to ensure the dog has every possible chance to stay with its owning family. The BCCS has local personnel throughout the country to assist in both home-checking and in-house support.
The BCCS assists local rescue kennels in identifying and assessing possible Corsos in their care, as well as providing a ready supply of home-checked and approved rescue and foster homes.
The BCCS cooperates with breeders who are unable to take back their own dogs, assisting in the transition of these dogs into new homes.
The BCCS will never put down a dog because of lack of space or funds, but in cases of insoluble temperament problems, with the dogs eventual welfare in mind, the BCCS does believe that humane euthanasia is sometimes the kindest option.”
The Re-home team leader is Anna Osborne she manages the BCCS rescue team in each region of the country.
ACTION Anna is to write guidelines for homechecking.
ACTION The group agreed to have a funds drive for Anna’s rescue kennel to make up the £600 needed and not to take them out of the current funds as that would leave us very short. Carlie is to head up the fundrasing of the money.
6. Import Register
The attending members that they would not expend any effort to achieve Import Registration status this year. It is something however that will be reviewed each 6 months.
7. FOCC Vs BCCS
It was agreed that the FOCC is a pet community site and the BCCS is the breed club. All rescue and advertisements and public references/PR material will be under the heading BCCS.
Ownership of the FOCC and BCCS domains and websites we offered to the club itself - it was agreed that Marc and Jo Lueck will hold them in trust for the time being.
ACTION Valerie to change our adverts, business cards and general stuff to BCCS not FOCC.
8. Corso Registration
The BCCS will register any dog whose parents are registered BCCS, FCI, AKC or FCPR.
The BCCS will also run an open book for the UK Cane Corso and allow registration/assessment at any Funday or other official event. A registration at a show is at the discounted rate of £15.00. Registration is allowed by agreement from a quorum of the Board present on the day. No other documentation is required, however it is hoped that submittees would bring pedigree information to assist in assessment.
The BCCS will in future allow postal open book registration with suitable photographs. The prices for adult registration are £20.00 for an adult dog postal registration with the submission of a registration form and photograps from the front, back, side profile and bite.
The BCCS will register litters of puppies from registered parents at a price of £20.00 per litter. The BCCS will provide a litter certificate and an individual printed certificate (plain paper, non-embossed) for each registered puppy.
The BCCS offers a Certificated Pedigree with an optional photograph to owners and breeders for £20.00.
ACTION Marc to draft registration forms for individual dogs and litters.
ACTION Marc to source another embosser.
ACTION The Committee to approve a Pedigree design(s)
9. Membership
The BCCS agreed on the benefits of membership:
• Discount on fun days/registration
• Quarterly newsletter posted to home address or available online exclusively
• A vote at BCCS general meetings
• BCCS Welcome pack (including)
o History of the breed
o Code of ethics
o Accredited breeder scheme
o Sticker/tax disc holder/tangible branded item
o Membership card(s)
o Last newsletter
It was agreed that members who signed up at the “false start” in 2008 be given 6 months free membership and a membership pack.
Costs of membership were agreed as follows:
Single: £15 (one vote & 1 discounted entry)
Family: £20 (one vote per partner, + discounted entry for partners + children under 18)
Overseas: £25 (one vote + discounted entry)
ACTION: Marc Lueck to supply list of false start members to secretary
ACTION: Marc Lueck to draft membership forms
ACTION: Committee to meet to discuss launch date & membership drive
10. 2010 Events
It was agreed that the BCCS will hold at least two events each year – one North and one South.
A number of possible venues and events were discussed – this will be a topic for the next Committee meeting:
• Bitework w/ Kenny
• Discover Dogs/Crufts
• Dog-walk South Shields
• Tracking seminar (Dave)
ACTION: Ali as well as any others to investigate venue for Northern event.
ACTION: Jo to secure Wix Equestrian Centre for 2010 South event.
ACTION: All committee members to supply additional ideas for events at next meeting.
11. Merchandise
It was agreed that the BCCS will sell branded merchandise both as a PR exercise as well as a valuable extra income, both for the immediate need of £600 rescue funds for Anna’s rescue kennel, and against future club/rescue needs.
Clothing was agreed (and has been subsequently created)
The website will have a store component for online orders
Branded goods will be selected and sourced, and stock kept for shows and internet orders.
It was agreed that Theresa was NO LONGER to pay for all the stock from her own funds – all stock purchases to be made from Club funds.
ACTION: Committee members would investigate merchandise to bring ideas back to the next Committee meeting
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