The Italian Greyhound Club Rules
2. The Club shall consist of an unlimited number of members whose names and addresses may be available for inspection if so requested by the members of the Club or by the Kennel Club.
3. The Annual subscription shall be such an amount as deemed necessary by the committee and agreed by members at a general meeting. The annual subscription is payable on the first day of January in each year. If a member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions by the last day of January, his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register – acceptance back on the register will be dependent upon a new application.
Every candidate for membership shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another on the form provided by The Italian Greyhound Club. The election of these members shall be vested in the Committee, a majority of votes in favour securing election. The form must have the signature of a proposer and seconder.
All members agree to be bound by these rules and to the Italian Greyhound Club’s code of ethics.
Applicants will not be deemed members with full rights and privileges to vote or win Club trophies until their acceptance by the Committee and their subscription is fully paid.
Single members are entitled to one vote; joint membership to consist of two members, each of whom have a vote.
Junior members shall be elected in the same way as fully paid up members; they shall be aged between the ages of 8 – 16 years but will have no voting rights. From the age of 16 years they can apply for full membership of the Club.
The Committee shall have the power to propose Honorary Life Members, who shall be elected by members present by way of secret ballot at an Annual General Meeting, with full privileges and voting rights.
4. The Officers of the Club shall consist of:
A) A President who shall be elected by the Members for a period of three years by postal ballot of fully paid up members and shall be eligible for re-election for further periods of three years and shall be entitled to attend meetings in a non-voting capacity
B) Up to 5 Honorary Life Vice Presidents, who shall be Honorary Life members, who shall be proposed by the committee for services to the club and/or breed, and who shall be elected by way of secret ballot of the members present at an
Annual General Meeting
C) An Honorary Secretary who shall be elected for a term of two years by postal ballot of fully paid up members.
D) An Honorary Treasurer who shall be elected for a term of two years by postal ballot of fully paid up members. Secretary and Treasurer may be separate appointments or may be held by one person, and shall be the right to attend, speak and vote at committee meetings. The 2 posts will, however, be subject to separate election in alternate years.
The postal ballot papers to be numbered and returned to an independent scrutineer for counting.
No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee or hold any other office or appointment with a Kennel Club registered society.
5. The Club shall be managed by the Officers and a Committee of nine Members, three of whom shall retire from office each year, but shall be eligible for re-election by postal ballot from paid up Members for the current year and the result declared at the Annual General Meeting. No individual who has been a Member for less than three years may be elected onto the Committee or as an officer. No more than 2 persons residing in the same household may hold positions on the committee at the same time. The Chairman and the Vice Chairman shall be elected by the Committee at the first meeting to be held after the Annual General Meeting.
Four Members of the Committee shall form a quorum. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. Any casual vacancy in the Officers or Committee may be filled by the Committee for the remainder of the year, co-opted Officers/Committee Members shall not be able to vote at meetings.
A resignation of a Committee Member or such vacancy caused by other means shall be filled by postal ballot at the Annual General Meeting but only for the unexpired period of the three year term of service.
The Committee may form sub-committees and may co-opt persons other than Members but without voting powers to serve upon them. The Chairman of sub-committees must be a member of the club. There shall be a meeting of the Committee as often as may be deemed necessary and in any case not less than three times a year.
Fourteen days’ notice shall be given of such meetings by the Secretary. Any Committee Member who does not attend three consecutive meetings without good reason shall be deemed to have retired from the Committee.
6. The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held as early as convenient in the year, and no later than the end of April, at a time and place to be decided upon by the Committee, to receive the Chairman’s report, the Treasurer’s report and the accounts and balance sheet duly certified, to receive the result of the postal ballot for Officers and Committee from an Independent Scrutineer, and to transact any other business the notice of which appears on the Agenda, with the exception of routine matters or those which in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting are urgent. A copy of the annual statement of accounts to be made available on request to members 14 days prior to the AGM.
At least 60 days written notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to each Member and matters for the Agenda and nominations proposed and seconded by fully paid members must be submitted to the Secretary at least 46 days before the meeting. Any necessary voting papers must be sent to all paid members at least 32 days before the meeting and the voting papers must be returned to the Independent Scrutineer 14 days before the Annual General Meeting and in time for the declaration of the result at the meeting.
7. A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Secretary if 25 current paid up members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so. Members shall be given not less than 14 days written notice from the Secretary of any Special General Meeting. The Committee of the Club is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting. No business other than that detailed on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.
8. Any Member winning a Club trophy or cup and requiring to keep the same until required to be put up again for competition shall agree to return the same in as good order as when delivered and any damage occurring to it whilst in the holders possession shall be made good at his/her own expense.
9. All new rules, alterations to existing rules, or the reversal of any former act or decision shall be made at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting only and the sanction of the majority of Members present shall be necessary to confirm any action taken and such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and approved the alteration. New Rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately and be included in the Club’s Rules with effect from the next Annual General Meeting.
10. All expenses incurred by the Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary or any Member on behalf of the Club by the authority of the Committee shall be defrayed out of the funds of the Club.
11. A banking account shall be opened in the name of the Club into which all revenue shall be paid and from which withdrawals shall be made only on the signature of two or more officers, one of which shall be the Treasurer. The Club will appoint either one qualified Accountant, or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience to certify the accounts annually to be presented to the Members at the Annual General Meeting. Those undertaking the certification must be independent from those preparing the accounts, ie not related to or living in the same household as the person who prepared the accounts. The financial year of the Club shall be from 1st January to 31st December.
12. Any Member withdrawing from the Club shall give notice of his intention in writing to the Secretary, but any Member leaving the Club shall not be entitled to receive back any money he/she may have paid to the Club during his/her Membership, nor have any claim against the Club, and such resigning Member shall be liable to the Club for the whole annual subscription.
13. No Member shall give the name or address of the Club in advertisements or for business purposes.
14. In the event of the Club being dissolved, a final General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Club’s assets. A final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Club shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Club on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Club. Any cups or trophies belonging to the Club shall be returned to the donors of such cups or trophies providing that such donors shall be alive at the dissolution of the Club. Otherwise or their then whereabouts being untraceable then such cups and trophies shall be disposed of to the best advantage of the Club as the Committee think fit.
15. The Kennel Club shall be the final court of appeal in all matters in Committee.
16. Any Member who shall be disqualified under the Kennel Club Rule A11.j.(5) and/or Kennel Club Rule A11.j.(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 interests 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 the place, date and hour of the Meeting that he/she may attend and offer an explanation. If at the Meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting, his/her name shall forthwith be erased from the list of Members, 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.
17. If the Club expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, Dog Shows, Trials or Competitions, the Club shall report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
18. The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
19. 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 the 31 July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of societies be forwarded to the Kennel Club.
The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the year.
20. As a Registered Society the Club must produce a list of Judges each year, which must be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of the Club’s Annual Returns. The purpose of the Breed Society Judges list is to indicate to interested parties those persons a Breed Society would support at differing levels of judging. Membership of the Club must not be a prerequisite for inclusion in the lists. Judges lists should be divided into five parts namely, Al, A2, A3, B and C and must indicate the date on which the list will expire. On expiry, a new list must be compiled.
On completion of the Italian Greyhound Club questionnaire, the IGC Judges Sub-committee will consider the Judge’s experience against the following criteria, (save in exceptional circumstances), required for all the following Judging lists.
The judges will be voted on by a secret ballot of the IGC Judges Sub-committee for inclusion on the lists.
December 2015
The Italian Greyhound Club code of ethics
All members of the Italian Greyhound Club undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics:
1) Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2) Will agree without reservations that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural constitution of the animal, may report such an operation to the Kennel Club.
3) Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
4) Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
5) Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
6) Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
7) Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause such a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties
8) Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars* and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
9) Will always clean up after their dog in public places or anywhere they are being exhibited.
10) 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.
11) Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
12) 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.
13) 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).
14) 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.
15) Will keep dogs and bitches in good condition, the welfare of dogs/bitches being of paramount importance.
16) Breed only for type and improvement of the breed in accordance with the Italian Greyhound Breed Standard.
17) Bitches should not be bred from until 18 months of age or over the age of 8 years.
18) Stud dog owners should use their discretion in the number of times a dog is used at stud in the course of a year, and should not allow their dogs to be used on bitches of poor quality. Dogs should not be used until they are at least 9 months of age. Dogs/bitches should not be bred from that are known to carry a genetically transmitted disease or defect.
19) Bitches should not be allowed to whelp more than once in every 12 months with a maximum of 4 litters in her lifetime.
20) Any breeding arrangement to be in writing, a copy for both parties, signed by both.
21) Not exercise their dogs when engaging in KC licensed activities except in authorised areas ensuring that any faeces are removed and appropriately disposed of.
22) Ideally puppies should not leave for their new home before 10 weeks of age. Placement of dogs/bitches into good homes only where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy healthy life; the breeder will agree, always, to take the dog/bitch back if the initial circumstances change.
23) Will supply written advice to all new owners re: characteristics of the breed, diet, preventative inoculations and/or medications against infectious diseases, worming, exercise, insurance, accidents and comfort for the dog/bitch.
24) All puppies to be registered with the Kennel Club, registration certificate and a signed pedigree (3 generations or more) to be handed over to the buyer at the time of purchase or at the earliest opportunity if not immediately available.
N.B. “Pet Only” dogs/bitches should have their registrations endorsed: “Not to be bred from” as per Kennel Club regulations. Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
Membership of the Italian Greyhound Club is to be recommended and encouraged!
*The law requires that all dogs/bitches must wear a collar with an identification device bearing the owner’s name and address when in a public place. (The minimum allowed for an address is post code plus house name or number.)
Tip: Include your mobile number and if the dog is found, you can immediately be contacted.
