EBKC Standard of Conduct

Warnings / Probation / Suspension

• Written warning. Some situations may not be serious enough to necessitate a hearing or warrant discipline. In those cases, the EBKC may issue a written warning to the accused to put the actor on notice that his or her actions were unacceptable, and to serve as a reminder of the rules. A file for that individual will be created, referenced, and taken into consideration should any future issues arise.

• Probation. Probation shall serve as a reprimand or serious warning. During the period of probation, the individual shall be closely monitored by EBKC. Any other instance of misconduct may result in immediate suspension or barring at the discretion of the EBKC . If the probation is to be accompanied by a fine, the fine must be paid by the stated deadline, or the probation may be increased to suspension.

• Suspension. Suspension: (also referred to as barring) is a loss of event and registration privileges as defined under the Terms of Suspension. Indefinite and life suspensions shall be reserved for the most egregious offenses or repeat offenders. The loss of event and registration privileges shall begin upon EBKC’s mailing of the notification to the respondent via certified mail (return receipt requested), but if it is a defined period of suspension, the fine must be paid by certified check or money order before the end of the suspension period. If the fine is not paid by the end of the suspension period, the suspended individual will remain so until the fine is paid in full. Once the suspension period is served, event and registration privileges will be restored with an automatic 3 year probation period.

Notice of Suspension

Individuals breaching registration policies by submitting false or fraudulent information when registering their dogs or litters shall be subjected to disciplinary measures that will result in being suspended from the EBKC.

During the period of suspension or barring, a person who is suspended or barred may be prohibited from, but not limited to, one or more of the following:

1. They are barred from registering any dogs in their names (joint or individual ownership). They may, however, transfer any dogs currently registered in their names (joint or individual ownership) to another individual(s), except they may not transfer dogs to any member of their families, spouses, business partners, or companions. Companion is defined as anyone who resides at the same address as the suspended individual.
   
2. They are barred from registering any dogs in their names (joint or individual ownership) and they may not transfer any dogs currently registered in their names (joint or individual ownership).
   
3. They are barred from registering any litters and from signing any litter registrations in any capacity. No offspring of a dog registered in their names (joint or individual ownership) is eligible for registration with EBKC.
   
4. They are barred from entering or participating in any way in any EBKC licensed event, including, but not limited to, co-owner, handler, back-up handler, judge, guide, spectator, or EBKC licensed official.
   
5. No dog registered in their names (joint or individual ownership) may be entered or participate in any way in any EBKC licensed event.
   
6. No championship points, wins toward a title will be awarded for any dog registered in their names (joint or individual ownership).
   
7. They are barred from advertising in any EBKC Advertisement,
   Website or Social Media Platform.

Any violation of these sanctions or any other EBKC rule or policy during the time period in which the individual is barred or suspended may result in their being suspended indefinitely.

Inherent Rights and Powers

Notwithstanding anything herein, and regardless of whether these procedures are followed, under EBKC’s Inherent Rights and Powers, the EBKC reserves the right to itself and its sole judgment and discretion, to investigate any suspected misconduct and to impose such sanctions and penalties as deemed appropriate.

The constructions and/or application of EBKC rules, procedures, regulations, and policies are governed by The European Courts of Law

The European Bully Kennel Club holds and has reserved to itself certain inherent rights and powers in connection with conducting its operations, registering litters, transferring registrations of dogs, licensing events, and awarding titles. These inherent rights and powers include but are not limited to the following:

The European Bully Kennel Club has the right to inspect all reports, scorecards and documents related to EBKC events.

Some, but not all, of the items subject to inspection are:

• scores;
• disqualifications of dogs for fighting or other reasons;
• errors by the recording person; and
• documentation excluded for any reason.

EBKC reserves the right to correct any mistakes found during such inspection whether or not the document has the signature of a Judge or Club Officer. EBKC reserves the right to itself and in its sole judgement and dis- cretion, to take such actions and impose such sanctions as would:

• Bar an individual from entering or participating in any way in any EBKC licensed event.
• Bar an individual from transferring or registering any pups or dogs in that person’s name (joint or full regularisation) or to any member of that person’s family.
• Bar an individual from receiving Championship points for any dog registered in that person’s name (joint or full registration).

By way of examples, the following constitute some, but not all, of the situations calling for the above sanctions:

• Falsification or alteration of a EBKC Registration Certificate, Pedigree, EBKC DOG ID Card or any other EBKC document.
• Falsification or alteration of any reports of wins issued to EBKC
• Falsification or alteration of receipts issued by EBKC Judges.
• Switching, wrongfully using or attempting to use a EBKC Registration Certificate, Pedigree, EBKC Dog ID Card or any other EBKC document.
• Selling or attempting to sell a dog with false or incorrect EBKC Registration Certificate or Pedigree.
• Intimidating, threatening, or injuring a Judge, Club/Association member or official, event participant or spectator, or EBKC representative.

The six examples given above are only by way of example and EBKC reserves to itself its inherent right and power to impose such sanctions in any other circumstances deemed appropriate by EBKC.

Any individual who is found guilty by a court of law of a crime involving dogs will be barred from The European Bully Kennel Club for an indefinite period. A person shall be considered guilty in a criminal proceeding if they are convicted by a judge, jury, or if they enter a plea bargain or other arrangement to plea to a lesser offense, or if their case is disposed of by any form of deferred adjudication; a person shall be considered guilty in a civil proceeding if they are held responsible or liable by a judge, jury, or if a compromised settlement is reached between the parties.