The PREOSSIA "Code of Ethics" is the document that spells out what the club considers to be ideal conduct on the part of PREOSSIA members and PREOSSIA breeders.The "Minimum Standards of Conduct" is an exact copy of the "Code of Ethics" MINUS some of the guidelines.
All members of the PREOSSIA agree when they join to abide by the "Minimum Standards of Conduct." Complying with the complete "Code of Ethics" is optional. The two sets of rules differ mainly in what is required of breeders. Therefore, which set of rules to follow mainly matters to members of the club who are breeders.
A breeder can choose whether or not to abide by the "Code of Ethics." However, if a breeder notifies the PREOSSIA Membership Chair or the PREOSSIA Ethics Chair that she intends to comply with the complete "Code of Ethics," she is expected from that day onward to keep her pledge and follow every guideline in the "Code of Ethics" consistently and without exception. In return, breeders who follow the complete "Code of Ethics" are highlighted on the PREOSSIA Breeders List (highlighted using a dark background and frame around the listing).
Breeders who have not pledged to follow the complete "Code of Ethics" are listed on the PREOSSIA Breeders List, but their listings are not highlighted. The backgrounds of their listings will be the same color as the rest of the page.
It is important to understand that if a breeder has promised to comply only with the "Minimum Standards of Conduct," that breeder is doing LESS than the club considers ideal. On the other hand, the breeder may be a good, honest breeder, but just not yet ready to bring her breeding program and cattery practices up to the full club standards. For example, the complete "Code of Ethics" requires breeders to do early spay/neuter on every kitten prior to transfer to a new home as a pet. Sometimes it takes breeders a while to get used to the idea of doing early spay/neuter on every pet kitten, and it may take them a while to find a veterinarian they trust who will do early spay/neuters.
Until a breeder is consistently following all of the special guidelines contained in the "Code of Ethics," she cannot be listed as a (highlighted) "Code of Ethics" breeder on the PREOSSIA Breeders List. She can only be listed as a (unhighlighted) "Minimum Standards of Conduct" breeder.
Here are a few of the most important ethical breeding practices REQUIRED by the "Code of Ethics," but NOT required by the "Minimum Standards of Conduct." This is only a partial list:1. Early spay/neuter of ALL kittens before they are transferred to new owners as pets.
2. Sales contract used for all transfers of ownership and the contract must always state whether the kitten/cat is sold as a pet or as a breeding cat with breeding rights. If the former, then the kitten/cat must be neutered prior to transfer.
3. Never breed a cat that is a close relative of a cat that is known to have or is likely to have a potentially lethal genetic defect unless there is a scientifically-documented, reliable genetic test for the defect that clearly shows the chosen breeding cat is not a silent or overt carrier of the defect. In other words, if in doubt, don't breed the cat.
4. In general, cats other than spraying studs must not be kept in cages except in temporary, unusual circumstances. Make sure that all cats on the premises receive more than just minimal humane care. Make sure they are getting enjoyment from life on a daily basis. For details, see the full "Code of Ethics."
Here are simplified summaries of some of the basic rules of ethical breeding that are listed in BOTH the "Minimum Standards of Conduct" and the "Code of Ethics." The rules the two documents have in common include (but are not limited to):1. All PREOSSIA breeders breed for the benefit of the breed, the benefit of the individual cats, and NOT for profit. Breeders interested in profit should not join PREOSSIA. Breaking even is okay, obviously. Examples of activities that stem from a profit motive and that are NOT okay by PREOSSIA rules are: omitting basic vaccinations and vet care needed by the cats in order to save money; promoting one cattery in a way that harms other catteries; trashing other breeders; advertising via multiple breed clubs that have incompatible goals for the breed; selling cats and kittens for significantly higher or lower prices than other breeders; and using one's own made-up designer names for the breed, the colors of the cats, or other attributes. Breeders in the same breed club should use the same name for the breed, same name for the colors, and so on. Club members support each other and a common definition of the breed, as well as helping each other keep the breed healthy and viable for the future.
2. All breeders who choose to join PREOSSIA agree to breed their cats to the PREOSSIA Old-Style Siamese Breed Standard and support that breed standard to the public. Members of PREOSSIA do not publicly or non-publicly support breed standards from other clubs that are significantly different from the PREOSSIA Old-Style Siamese Breed Standard and that are in competition with it. The whole point of a breed club is for breeders and fanciers to work together on mutual goals for the breed.
3. PREOSSIA breeders register all breeding cats and all litters produced with a major cat association (such as CFA, TICA, ACFA, CFF, GCCF, FIFe, WCF, or ACA). Minor cat associations such as TCA, TCCI, and UFO are not sufficient. Kittens and cats must never be sold or transferred without registration papers or one of the registration applications from a litter registration.
4. Breeders register a cattery name with at least one major cat association.
5. Breeders give a minimum three generation pedigree to every person to whom they sell or transfer a cat or kitten. If the cat is a newly registered foundation cat, such as a cat imported from Thailand or another country where formal pedigrees are often not available, it's okay for the pedigree to contain some blanks where ancestors are unknown, but the pedigree must clearly and honestly present to the buyer what is known and what is not known about the cat's pedigree for at least the last three generations.
6. All registration papers, pedigree forms, and other cattery documents must be free of falsified or inaccurate information. When a kitten or cat is transferred, the breeder must always give the new owner the correct papers for that cat or kitten.
7. PREOSSIA breeders never sell a sick cat or kitten.
8. All breeders use sales contracts for ALL transfers of ownership of a cat or kitten. The sales contract must clearly describe the cat or kitten to be transferred. It must also spell out what the new owner can expect from the breeder and what the breeder expects from the new owner.
9. All breeders give new owners a copy of the transferred cat's/kitten's medical records and feeding/care instructions.
10. All breeders maintain adequate housing, sanitation, and at least basic humane care for all cats and kittens on the premises. The definitions of these terms are given in the "Code of Ethics" and the "Minimum Standards of Conduct."
For full details and the precise wording of the guidelines, compare the "Code of Ethics" to the "Minimum Standards of Conduct." It's easy to see which guidelines were omitted from the "Minimum Standards of Conduct." Just look at the numbering system. Wherever you see a number or letter missing from the "Minimum Standards of Conduct," that will be a case where the guideline is required for "Code of Ethics" breeders, but not for "Minimum Standards" breeders.
The complete "Code of Ethics" has the following sections and rule numbers:
I. A-G
II. A. 1-9
II. B. 1-11
III. A. 1-9
III. B. 1-3
III. C. 1-16
IV. A-B
V. A-D
VI.The "Minimum Standards of Conduct" has all of the above guidelines except it OMITS:
II. A. 1.
II. B. 3-11.
II. A. 2-8.
III. B. 1-3.
III. C. 2-5, 7-9, 15-16.
IV.You can look at the "Code of Ethics" to see which rules were omitted from the "Minimum Standards of Conduct." The "Minimum Standards of Conduct" does not contain any rules that are different from those in the "Code of Ethics." It is only the "Code of Ethics" that contains additional rules that are not in the "Minimum Standards of Conduct." You can consult the "Minimum Standards of Conduct" to see which of the rules are followed by all members of the club without exception.
For questions about PREOSSIA, email PREOSSIA Membership or the Marketing Chair. For questions about this site, email the Webmaster.
(c) Text and photos copyright 1999-2007 A.D. by PREOSSIA. Some photos and materials on or linked to this site are copyrighted by individual PREOSSIA members and their friends and are found here with their permission. You may link to this page, but may not copy or reproduce any portion of it or anything linked to it without written consent from the copyright holders.
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