RULES AND REGULATIONS (amended March 2017)

1. NAME AND OBJECTS

The Club shall be called Manchester And Counties Bulldog Club. The headquarters shall be in Manchester, or the surrounding counties. The objects of the Club shall be – To promote the breeding, exhibiting and general improvement of pure-bred Bulldogs and also the protection and advancement of the breed.

2. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

The Club shall consist of a President, Chairman, Vice Presidents, Hon Secretary, Assistant Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, Trophy Steward, and a committee of twelve or more (up to a Maximum of eighteen (18). Also an unlimited number of Life Members, Hon Life Members and Ordinary Members. The President, Chairman, Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer shall not be eligible to accept the appointment of an officer in another Club, Breed or Canine. Anyone being nominated for the positions must have served a minimum of twelve months on the committee of the club.

3. COMMITTEE

The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the Officers of the Club and the Committee, all of whom shall retire annually. All members shall have equal voting rights and the Chairman shall have the casting vote. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as is necessary, but at least every three months. A quorum of the committee shall be five. Committee members & Officers shall be eligible to judge this Club’s shows once served 3yrs full agm years on committee.

4. ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE CLUB

Candidates for membership of the Club shall be accepted at the Committee meeting following their application, provided they secure 4/5 of the votes cast. Voting shall be by show of hands. In the event of a applicant failing to be accepted their re-application will not be considered until the Committee meeting following the next A.G.M.

5. VOTING RIGHTS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

Each Member shall be entitled to one vote immediately on acceptance of membership. Postal or proxy votes are not allowed. Junior members shall be below the age of sixteen and shall have no voting rights. Joint Members shall have one ‘vote each’. Voting procedure, where not specified in a rule, will be decided by majority at the meeting.

6. CLUB PROPERTY

The property of the Club is vested in the Committee. In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, a general Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Club’s assets and the outcome of the meeting be notified to the Kennel Club Ltd.

7. ACCOUNTS

An account shall be held in the Club’s name at a recognised clearing bank into which all the revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be Chairman, Hon Secretary and Hon – made on the signatures of two of the following Treasurer. At the discretion of the Committee, part of the funds may be transferred Those undertaking the certification must be into a long term savings accounts. independent from those who prepared the accounts. A copy of the annual statement on request to members 14 days prior to the AGM available of accounts to be made Auditors will be appointed at the Annual General Meeting either one qualified or two unqualified auditors.

8. SUBSCRIPTIONS

The annual subscription shall be an amount agreed by members in a General Meeting and notified to The Kennel Club Ltd. No member whose subscription is . unpaid is entitled to any of the privileges of membership Subscriptions are due to be paid each year on 1st January. Any member whose subscriptions remain unpaid by 28th February shall have their name automatically removed from the members.

9. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

Any member who shall be disqualified under KC A11.j.(5) and/or KC rule A11.j.(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the society for the duration of the disqualification. If the canine section expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, Dog shows, Trials or Competitions, the organisation will report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club Ltd within seven days and supply any particulars required. No person disqualified under KC rules shall be a member of the canine section of any affiliated organisation and should any person under disqualification be allowed to remain a member, the officers and committee of the organisation may be dealt with under rule 42 of the Kennel Club Ltd. If the conduct of any member shall be, in the opinion of the Committee of the Club, 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 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 they may appeal to the Kennel Club Ltd within two calendar months from the date of such Meeting, upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club Ltd may impose. No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the committee or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel club Ltd Registered society.

10. FINANCIAL YEAR

The financial year of the club shall be from January 1st to December 31st each year.

11. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting shall take place to receive the report of the Officers and Committee, to approve the Balance Sheet, to elect Officers and Committee and either one qualified or two unqualified Auditors, to elect from members proposals for judges for the Club's shows and to discuss any resolution duly placed on the agenda, of which due notice is required. Notice of the AGM will be given in the dog press one calendar month before the meeting or will be posted to all members Fourteen days notice is required for the nomination of officers and committee. Fourteen days notice is required for the nomination of judges for the club shows. Fourteen days notice is required to discuss any other resolution to be placed on the Agenda for the AGM. Twenty one days notice is required for the proposal of a life member. Twenty one days notice is required for proposal of a rule change. Fourteen days notice is required for any other proposal. All the above nominations and proposals should include the name and signature of a proposer as well as the name and signature of the seconder. No business shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the agenda, with the exception of routine matters or those which in the opinion of Chairman are urgent. The agenda will be circulated or at the discretion of the Committee, will be posted to the members prior to the meeting.

12. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

The secretary shall call a Special General Meeting if three Officers, the Committee or six members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so. No business other than that detailed on the agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting. The Secretary shall within seven days of such notice convene a meeting giving one calendar months notice to each member. The object of the meeting must be fully specified and notified to each member. If the meeting is not convened, the requisitionists may themselves convene the meeting obeying the same timetable.

13. AMENDMENTS TO RULES

The rules of the Club may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the Notice for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules. Any proposed alteration to the rules may not be brought into effect until the Kennel Club Ltd has been advised and approved the alteration.

14. ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB LTD

The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, Maintenance of Title Fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club Ltd by the Secretary for continuance of registration and that by 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Ltd Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities be forwarded to the Kennel Club Ltd. The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club Ltd of any changes of Secretary which may take place during the year.

15. GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS CLUB MEMBERS

All members of Manchester&Counties Bulldog Club undertake to abide by its General Code of Ethics and:

Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon who performs an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operations to the Kennel Club Ltd.
Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the breed standard should be placed in suitable homes.
Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
Will agree not to breed from a Dog or Bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or the breed.
Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home,
Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
Will only sell dogs were 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.
Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club Ltd 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.
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 Ltd registration certificates as standalone items(not accompanying a dog)
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.

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.

16. KENNEL CLUB LTD FINAL COURT OF APPEAL

The Kennel Club Ltd shall be the final court of appeal in all matters of dispute.

17. FEDERATION

The club shall not join any federation of societies or clubs.

18. MEMBERSHIP

The club shall make a list of all members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by members of the Club or by the Kennel Club Ltd.

19. BREED CLUB JUDGING LIST

The Club will submit to the Kennel Club Ltd each year as part of the Annual Returns, a statement to say that the Club accepts the Bulldog Breed Council judging list.

20. MEETINGS

Meetings shall be held throughout the year and shall be educational or social in nature. The Committee shall be responsible for organising such meetings. Members shall be informed at least fourteen days beforehand.

21. TROPHIES

The various trophies belonging to the Club shall be held by members winning them, at the discretion of the Committee, subject to them giving an undertaking for the safe custody and return to the Club.

22. OFFICIERS & COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

All officers, committee both full an Co-opted members of the MCBC are required to attend a minimum of one out of every three committee meetings called and also attend two out of the three shows that have been called with the correct notice within two AGM meetings.