Every breeder and owner who registers an animal or a litter with IBC agrees to this Code of Ethics.
1. Our principle
The health, welfare and integrity of the breed come first, above any personal, competitive or financial interest.
2. Honesty and records
- I will provide true and complete information to IBC and will never falsify a pedigree, parentage, microchip, health record or breeding information.
- I will keep accurate records of every breeding, litter and transfer.
- I will be honest in all advertising of my animals, my breeding program and my kennel or cattery.
- I will only register litters whose sire and dam I know with certainty.
3. Responsible breeding
- I will breed only animals that are sound in temperament and structure, in good health, and free of serious inheritable disease known to me.
- I will not breed a dam or sire younger than 8 months and will wait until the dam is physically mature enough to carry a litter.
- I will not breed a dam older than 8 years, nor allow her to have more than 2 consecutive litters without rest.
- IBC recommends microchip identification, DNA profiling and health testing for all breeding animals.
- I will respect the "Not for breeding" status on any pedigree and will not register offspring of an animal marked as such.
4. Stud services and agreements
- I will put every agreement about stud services, co-ownership, sales and guarantees in writing, signed by both parties.
- As owner of a sire, I will confirm the mating to the dam's owner and cooperate with the litter registration.
5. Care of puppies and kittens
- I will provide proper veterinary care, nutrition, socialization and shelter to the dam and her litter.
- I will not let a puppy leave my premises before 8 weeks of age, or a kitten before 12 weeks.
- With every animal I sell or transfer, I will provide its identification, its IBC registration or Puppy TAG, a written pedigree of at least three generations, and its vaccination and health records.
- I will use a written contract for every animal that leaves my care.
6. Lifetime responsibility
I will provide proper care for my animals throughout their lives. If I can no longer care for an animal, I will make every effort to rehome it responsibly so that it does not end up in a shelter.
7. Sales
I will not sell or give animals to pet shops, wholesalers, auctions or raffles, nor knowingly to anyone whose intention is to resell them irresponsibly.
8. Conduct
I will treat other breeders, owners, judges and IBC staff with respect, and I will comply with the animal welfare laws of my country and community.
9. Enforcement
IBC may investigate any complaint about a breach of this Code. Depending on the seriousness, IBC may issue a warning, suspend or cancel registrations, or suspend a member's access to IBC services. IBC's decision is final, subject to the Terms of Use.
