Code of Ethics

The West Highland White Terrier Club of America recognizes its responsibility to preserve and protect the West Highland White Terrier.  It further recognizes that the quality and reputation of the breed rest squarely in the hands of its breeders.

Members are individually granted membership in the West Highland White Terrier Club of America because of their commitment to the protection, preservation, and betterment of the breed.  This Code of Ethics sets forth the minimum standards of conduct by which each member has agreed to be bound in consideration of the grant of membership.  Violation of these standards of conduct may cause the Board of Directors of the West Highland White Terrier Club of America to invoke the provisions of Article VI of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Club, which would lead to sanctions up to and including expulsion from the West Highland White Terrier Club of America.

1. Members shall at all times act in the interest of the breed and in the interest and well being of individual dogs and in a manner in keeping with the aims and interests of the West Highland White Terrier Club of America. 
   

2. Members shall keep their dogs in an environment and under a regime that as far as possible ensures the well-being of the dogs.

3. Members shall screen prospective Westie owners to the best of their ability.  They shall educate prospective owners as to their responsibilities to the breed and to individual dogs.  Breeder  members shall remain available as a resource as needed for as long as any dog sold by them shall live.  Breeder members shall accept responsibility for any dogs they produce, for as long as those dogs live, should any be abandoned, abused, relinquished, or become homeless.  If a Breeder member fails, or is unable to accept such responsibility, then the owner of the distressed dog’s sire, if a member, should step forward and assist in efforts to rescue the dog.

4. No member shall knowingly sell, lease, loan, trade, give, consign or otherwise provide any dog, or any stud service to any pet shop, catalogue house, research laboratory, or any wholesale dealer in dogs, or to any person who sells to pet shops, catalogue houses, laboratories, or person or entity that deals in dogs for resale or is known to be unethical in dealings or treatment of dogs.  No member shall aid or abet any such transaction.  Board-approved health research or veterinary research universities, where there is benefit to the health of the breed, are exempt.

5. Members shall be familiar with the American Kennel Club rules governing exhibition, record keeping, registration and sale and transfer of dogs and must abide by those rules.

6. Members shall, when selling a dog, provide a written contract that sets out the responsibilities of both buyer and seller, including any warranties being made and any representations as to quality, etc.  If a member knows that the dog being sold is not suitable for competition in conformation classes, or that it has a physical condition or fault which indicates that it should not be bred, there shall be a contract which so states and provides that the dog is not to be bred, is to be spayed or neutered and that the AKC registration papers will be delivered to the purchaser by the seller only upon receipt of proof of spaying or neutering.

7. Members will only do breedings that are planned with the aim of improving the breed, with consideration given to type, temperament, health, and soundness.  Members shall be familiar with the Standard of the West Highland White Terrier and must discourage matings between inferior specimens of the breed.  No dog exhibiting a hereditary health defect or unsound temperament shall be bred, except as a test breeding to determine the genetic composition of the mate.  Any puppies resulting from a test breeding for serious hereditary defects must be placed as required in paragraph 6 above, unless the puppy is placed for the purpose of test breeding only.  No dog exhibiting poor health shall be bred.

8. Any member offering stud services shall deny service to any bitch not registered with the American Kennel Club or any bitch exhibiting any serious defect in type, temperament, structure, or poor health.  The member shall honestly disclose to the bitch’s owner any known defects (known or thought to be hereditary) in the stud, his predecessors or progeny.  The owner of the bitch shall honestly make the same type of disclosures to the stud owner concerning the bitch, her predecessors and progeny.

9. No member will breed a bitch unless he/she has the time and facilities to devote to the proper care and attention to both the physical and emotional development of the puppies and the well being of the dam.  No puppy will be placed in a new home before the puppy is eight weeks old, weaned and had its first immunization. 

10. No member will provide stud service unless he/she is satisfied that the bitch’s owner has the time and facilities necessary for the proper care and development of the puppies.  The stud dog owner is to have a contract that states that any puppies not suitable for competition in conformation classes, or that have a physical condition or fault that indicates that it should not be bred, are to be spayed or neutered.

11. No member will breed any bitch more than two out of three successive seasons (assuming puppies result) and never without due regard for the health and well being of the bitch.  No bitch shall be bred before at least her second estrus or the age of thirteen (13) months, whichever occurs last.  Further, no bitch shall be bred after the age of seven (7) year without the explicit approval and recommendation writing from her veterinarian.

12. Advertising by members will be as factual as possible.  Misleading exaggerations or unfounded implications of superiority will not be used.  Computer enhanced photographs that change the appearance of the dog used in advertising shall be identified as such.

13. Members shall not knowingly make unfair or untrue statements about the dogs or practices of others.

Enforcement

Enforcement of this Code of Ethics will be as provided in Article VI of the Constitution and By-laws of the West Highland White Terrier Club of America.