CODE OF ETHICS

The American Staffordshire Terrier Club of Hawaii (ASTC-H) Code of Ethics is a guideline to be used to maintain the character of the Club and further its objectives. All members shall exhibit the highest degree of sportsmanship and conduct him/herself in such a manner as to reflect credit on, and not be injurious to the sport of purebred dog showing, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AST) breed, and the ASTC-H. Any violation of this Code of Ethics by a member will be viewed as conduct injurious to the Dog and/or the Club. An ethical member will:

• Abide by the Constitution and By-Laws of the ASTC-H and the Rules of the American Kennel Club (AKC).
• Promote any dog eligible for registration with the AKC as an AST.
• Keep accurate breeding records, registration papers, and pedigrees.
• Maintain the best possible standards of canine health, cleanliness and care.
• Support and conduct only ethical trade practices. Honestly evaluate the quality of each AST sold, and fairly represent that evaluation. Members shall maintain prices so as not to be injurious to the breed. Sub-standard/inferior quality dogs should be placed or sold with a written agreement, to everone's full understanding, to have the dog altered.
• Direct his/her efforts toward breeding ASTs of exceptionall quality. He/she sincerely believes his/her breeding stock represents the Standard, and is sound mentally and physically.
• Make sure all dogs offered at stud shall not be bred prior to 12 months of age, and shall be in good health and free from any disqualifying or debilitating genetic faults and communicable diseases. Any bitch accepted for stud service must be at least 18 months of age or in her third season, in good health, and free from any disqualifying or debilitating genetic faults and communicable diseases. if a bitch is ever bred twice consecutively, she must be allowed a full year of rest before being bred again.
• The ASTC-H strongly recommends all breeding stock be x-rayed with certification by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
• Make sure no stud dog will be bred to any bitch - no bitch will be bred to any stud dog - no puppy, puppies, or older dogs will be sold, leased or given away - by the owner of any of the aforementioned, to anyone who is directly or indirectly involved with dog fighting or agents thereof, or sold to any puppy broker, puppy mill, litter lot sales, or any other commercial enterprise whose business is involved in like activities. An ethical member does not supply stock for raffles, "give away" prizes, or similar projects, and he/she does not encourage raising ASTs merely as a money-making scheme.
• Furnish records to each buyer, with instructions for proper care, of shots, wormings, veterinary records, pedigrees, AKC registration, or transfer documents, nless agreed to in writing. Stud service agreements should be clearly outlined as to cost and conditions of repeat services are recommended to be in writing. Co-ownership and leasing arrangements are recommended to be in writing with the agreement of both parties. All these agreements shall be in accordance with AKC procedures to allow for the appropriate registration of the resultant offspring.
• Advertise honestly, and in no way misrepresent, defraud or mislead.
• Participate, within ones own means, in the defense against canine legislation discrimanatory/injurious to the welfare of the AST and all purebred dogs.
• Never allow his/her AST(s) to roam.