 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
UKC
Earth Work Hunting Program
Section
1. Purpose of Program. The purpose of the UKC
Earth Work Hunting Program is to encourage and promote the
preservation
of the inherent hunting instincts of earth-working breeds. By offering Earth Working
titles, UKC supports the
significance
of hunting to the “Total Dog.” This program will provide hunters
and their dogs with a series of actual hunts
administered
by experienced licensed Judges working toward titles granted by UKC.
Many
UKC-affiliated clubs provide ongoing educational and training experience for hunters
and their working dogs. The United
Kennel
Club believes in promoting the conservation of wildlife and is committed to the
Second Amendment right of our American
customers,
and to the right of all persons’ rights to keep and bear arms.
The United Kennel Club, Inc. may change rules and policies as deemed necessary.
Section 2. Breeds eligible for the UKC Earth Work Hunting Program
Australian
Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Bedlington
Terrier Patterdale
Terrier
Border
Terrier Rat
Terrier
Cairn
Terrier
Russell Terrier
Cesky
Terrier Scottish
Terrier
Dandie
Dinmont Terrier Sealyham
Terrier
Dachshunds Smooth
Fox Terrier
Glen
of Imaal Terrier Sporting
Lucas Terrier
Jack
Russell Terrier Teddy
Roosevelt Terrier
Jagd
Terrier Welsh
Terrier
Lakeland
Terrier West
Highland White Terrier
Norfolk
Terrier Wire
Fox Terrier
Section
3.Dogs
eligible to participate in the UKC Earth Work Hunting Program.
Dog must be at least six months of age and
have
a permanent UKC registration number, a UKC Limited Privilege (LP) number, or a
Temporary Listing (TL) number.
Section 4.Hunting Rules. The
Judge is solely responsible for conducting and directing the cast and for reporting
all misconduct to
UKC.
All aspects of the hunt not specifically addressed by these rules shall be left
to the sole discretion of the Judge.
The
Judge’s decisions in the field are final.
4.1.
Authorized hunting grounds. Hunters
must only hunt on private lands where permission has been obtained from the
landowner
or on public lands where applicable law or regulations permit.
4.2.
Authorized cast members. Each cast (hunting
party) is limited to the Judge, one apprentice Judge (if applicable) and
no
more than three dog handlers.
4.3.
Authorized number of dogs per cast. The
number of dogs in a cast and the number of dogs loose in the field at one
time
is left to the sole discretion of the Judge. However, handlers may rotate dogs
in and out of the field with the Judge’s permission.
A dog may participate in more than one cast per day.
4.4.
Requirement for locator collar and box.
All dogs in the cast will be equipped with locator collars/boxes.
Equipment
failure
may be simulated to allow a Senior Judge to evaluate the skills of an Apprentice
Judge but no dogs will be hunted
without
this equipment.
4.5. Length of hunting time. The Judge will determine length of hunting time for the cast.
4.6.
unting order. The hunting order of the dogs will
be determined by the Judge. The Judge may allow more than one dog
loose
to locate active burrows at his/her discretion.
4.7. Spectators. Spectators may only participate with the approval of the Judge and the dog handlers. It should be noted that spectators must not, under any circumstances, bring dogs with them to the hunt field.
4.8. Hunting license requirements. All participants must be licensed and comply with the federal, state, and local hunting regulations. The Judge must verify each individual’s license before the start of the hunt.
4.9.
Earth Work Evaluation Forms. Each Judge is required
to bring blank UKC Earth Work Evaluation forms to a hunt.
Judges
may obtain forms by contacting UKC Field Operations, 100 E. Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo
MI 49002-5584. Prior to
the
start of each hunt, the Judge will provide each owner/handler with one form for
each dog to be hunted. The
owner/handler
will enter:
Dog’s UKC registration/ Temporary Listing/ Limited Privilege number
Dog’s name
Breed of dog
Owner’s name, address, daytime phone number, e-mail address, and signature
The
handler’s name, address, daytime phone number, e-mail address, and signature,
if the dog is being handled by
someone
other than the owner. If the dog is handled by someone other than the owner and
the owner is not present in the
field, the owner’s signature is not required.
4.10.
Requirements for passing evaluation.
A.
Dog must enter a natural earth or rock formation, not man made (i.e., trash piles,
stacked hay bales, rock walls, brush
piles, drains, etc.).
B. Dog must enter the earth and work below ground level out of sight.
C.
Dog must locate and work up to quarry. The dog may be assisted by the removal
of an obstruction (large rock, tree
roots
etc.) that would have rendered the burrow otherwise impassable to a dog. The Judge
has the sole discretion to determine
what other assistance, if any, a handler may give his/her dog.
D.
Reasonable verbal encouragement of a dog is allowed. The Judge has the sole discretion
to determine what
constitutes
“reasonable verbal encouragement.”
E.
When a burrow is approached by cast, a dog should be allowed reasonable time as
determined by the Judge to enter
the
burrow and disappear from sight. The dog may exit and reenter an unlimited number
of times as long as it is
actively
working the burrow. If the dog exits and fails to continue working the burrow,
loses interest, or if the dog will
not
enter the burrow, the Judge may declare the burrow is empty/uninhabited or open
for another dog to check and
work.
The Judge will use his/her discretion to decide whether the cast is to move on
or whether other dogs in the
party
will be allowed to check and attempt to work that burrow.
F.
Dog must mark the quarry by engaging the quarry, baying, growling or other responses,
or by putting enough
pressure
on the quarry to bolt it or move it through the burrow. Dog must be close enough
to the quarry that physical contact
is possible between dog and quarry. It must have been obvious that the quarry’s
movement resulted from
close
contact by the dog. Judges must understand the individual working style of the
breed they are judging and
judge
accordingly.
G. Dog must either bolt, draw, or stay with the quarry until dug to.
H.
Quarry must be visually identified as acceptable species of quarry by the Judge
and be a formidable challenge to the
dog.
I.
Only one dog will be permitted in the burrow at a time. Once a dog has been released
to the burrow, all other dogs
must
be restrained.
J.
The primary objective is for the handler and dog to work together as a team. Members
of the cast and the Judge
may,
at the Judge’s discretion, assist the owner in the recovery (digging out)
of the dog and quarry but must not
interfere
or hinder in any manner with the dog that is currently working the burrow. A physically
handicapped owner
may
bring a person to assist in the locating, digging and recovery of his/her dog.
K.
The Judge may only award a passing evaluation to a dog that locates and works
its own quarry. No passing
evaluation
may be given where one dog locates the quarry and a second dog works the quarry.
L.
It is the handler’s responsibility to maintain control of their dog at all
times while above ground.
4.11.
Completing the Earth Work Evaluation Form for dogs with passing evaluations.
When a dog earns a passing
evaluation, the dog’s owner/handler must give that dog’s Earth Work
Evaluation Form to the Judge. The Judge must
complete
each dog’s form and return the original (white) copy and bottom (yellow)
copy to the dog’s owner/handler. The
Judge
must keep the middle (pink) copy for his/her records for at least two years.
4.12.
Excusing a dog from a hunt. The Judge must indicate
“Excused for fighting” in the “Other Judge’s Comments”
section
of the
Earth Work Evaluation Form of any dog excused for fighting. Once excused, a dog
may not participate any further
in any
hunting activities on the day of the excusal. The Judge must keep the middle (yellow)
copy, give the bottom (pink)
copy to
the owner/handler of the dog, and send the original (white) copy of the Evaluation
Form to UKC Field Operations,
100
E. ilgore Rd., Kalamazoo MI 49002-5584.
A.
Judge’s authority to deal with dog fighting during a hunt. The owner/handler
of a dog involved in a fight is responsible
for
using whatever means he/she deems necessary to break up the fight. If the owner/handler
of either dog involved in
a
fight requests that the Judge assist in breaking up the dogs, the Judge may use
whatever force he/she deems
necessary
to break up a dog fight.
B.
Reporting a dog that is excused for fighting. The Judge must indicate “Excused
for fighting” in the “Other Judge’s Comments”
section of the Earth Work Evaluation Form of any dog excused for fighting. Once
excused, a dog may
not
participate any further in any hunting activities on the day of the excusal. The
Judge must send the original (white
copy)
and the bottom (yellow) copy of the Evaluation Form to UKC Field Operations, 100
E. Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo
MI
49002-5584.
4.13.
Excusing a handler from a hunt. The Judge must
excuse a handler from a hunt for any act of misconduct. The Judge
may
excuse a handler from a hunt for failure to follow the Judge’s instructions.
The Judge has sole discretion whether or
not
to allow the dog of an excused handler to continue to participate in the hunt
with a substitute handler. The Judge’s
decision
in these matters is final.
Section
5. UKC Earth Work Hunting Titles of Excellence and Requirements Titles must be
earned in sequence. Each new
Earth
Work Hunting title earned replaces the previous Earth Work Hunting title earned.
The total number of quarry
required
for each title is cumulative and builds from the previous title.
5.1. Titles
A.
Earth Working Dog I (EWDI)
1.
Dog must locate and successfully work quarry two times as evidenced by two Hunting
Evaluation forms completed and
signed by UKC-licensed Judges.
2.
These quarry may or may not be the same species of quarry.
3.
Both passing evaluations may be earned under the same or two different Judges.
B.
Earth Working Dog II (EWDII)
1.
Dog must successfully accumulate 3 additional passing evaluations (A total of
5 cumulative passing evaluations).
2.
Dog must successfully locate and work at least two of the acceptable species of
quarry (This may or may not have been
completed in a previous level).
3.
Passing evaluations must be earned under at least two different Judges (These
Judges may or may not be the
same
Judges as EWDI).
C.
Earth Work Champion (EWCH)
1.
Dog must successfully accumulate 3 additional passing evaluations (A total of
8 cumulative qualifying passing evaluations).
2.
Dog must successfully locate and work at least three of the acceptable species
of quarry (This may or may not
have
been completed in a previous level)
3.
Passing evaluations must be earned under at least two different Judges. (These
Judges may or may not be the
same Judges as EWDI, EWDII).
D.
Grand Earth Work Champion (GREWCH)
1.
Dog must successfully accumulate 3 additional passing evaluations (A total of
11 cumulative qualifying passing
evaluations).
2.
Dog must successfully locate and work a minimum of 3 of the acceptable species
of quarry (This may or may not
have been completed
in a previous level)
3.
Passing evaluations received under a minimum of three different Judges (These
Judges may or may not be the
same
Judges as EWDI, EWDII, or EWCH.)
Title
Total
No.of Minimum
No. of Different
Species |
EWDI
2 1 1
EWDII
5
2
2
EWCH
8
2 3
GREWCH
11
3 3
__________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
5.2.
Acceptable species of quarry. The following are
acceptable species of quarry provided that they are hunted in accordance
with
all applicable hunting laws and regulations: red fox, gray fox, raccoon, woodchuck
(groundhog), marmot, badger, opossum
and
such other naturally denning animals that may be considered formidable quarry
at the Judge’s discretion,
except
that skunk is never an acceptable quarry.
5.3.
Passing Evaluations. Each
quarry has equal value meaning that a dog earns one passing evaluation for each
acceptable
quarry
it locates and works successfully. The Judge has the sole discretion to determine
whether a quarry is acceptable and
whether or not the dog has earned a passing evaluation. A dog can continue to
accrue passing evaluations throughout the dog’s
hunting career. Passing evaluations earned by a dog remain with the dog in the
event of change of ownership. Passing
evaluations
may only be issued by UKC-licensed Earth Working Judges and Senior Judges.
5.4.
Applying for a title certificate. The owner of
a dog eligible for an Earth Work Hunting title must submit an Application for
Earth
Work Hunting Title accompanied by the signed original (white) copies of the Earth
Work Evaluation Forms
documenting the
number and types of passing evaluations required for the title in question. Title
certificates will be mailed to the
registered
owner of a dog upon receipt of the Application, Earth Work Evaluation Forms
and fee of $20.00. A dog with a
Temporary
Listing number
may hunt and earn passing evaluations but no titles
will be issued to that dog until it is permanently
registered
with UKC or is issued a Limited Privilege Listing number.
Section
6. Scheduling a hunt. Individuals wishing to
hunt their dogs for the purpose of earning UKC Earth Working titles must contact
a
UKC-licensed earth working Judge or Senior Judge to schedule a hunt. A list of
current UKC-licensed Judges and Senior
Judges is
available
from UKC Field Operations, 100 East Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49002-5584 and
on the UKC web page at www.ukcdogs.com
All
hunts conducted by UKC-licensed earth working Judges or Senior Judges are automatically
licensed by UKC.
Section
7. Suggested Equipment The following equipment
is used for earth work. All of this equipment is not required for every hunt, nor
is
it practical for every member of the cast to bring all of the needed equipment
into the field. The Judge and cast members must
coordinate
what equipment is needed and determine who will provide the equipment when scheduling
a hunt date. The Judge determines
what
equipment will be allowed on the cast and what equipment he/she will require the
members of the cast to furnish.
7.1 Field equipment.
Post
hole diggers: 5
feet to 6 feet long pry bar-such as 3/4", tempered steel, hex (6-sided bar)
with one pointed end and one
flattened end.
Long handled shovel
Short handled shovel
Hand shovel
Wire cutters-heavy duty
Snare-can be purchased from any farm supply store. It is often called a "pig catcher" or “hog catcher"
Coon tongs
Small limb saw to saw through roots
A good hunting knife
Flashlight
7.2.
Equipment for your terrier:
Locator collar, locator box designed for underground work, electrical tape and extra batteries for the collar and the box
Large water bottle of fresh drinking water
Saline solution to wash your terrier's eyes
High calorie supplement to give a terrier that has been working hard instant nutrition
First Aid kit
Solution to remove skunk odor
Phone numbers of several vets in the area
A cell phone with extra charged battery
In
the winter: plenty of dog coats/sweaters, towel, large blanket.
7.2.
Equipment for you:
Good water proof, insulated boots
Appropriate hunting/work clothing for the conditions
Section
8. Applying to become a licensed UKC Earth Work Hunting Judge. The
responsibilities of an Earth Work Hunting
Judge are
many and should not be lightly undertaken. An Earth Work Hunting Judge:
A.
Is responsible for introducing novice dogs and novice owners to the world of earth
work.
B. Must be knowledgeable and experienced in the hunt field.
C. Must be knowledgeable about UKC rules and policies for the Earth Work Hunting Program.
D. Must be able to make rational and appropriate judgments in high stress situations.
E. Must be capable of conducting casts with multiple owner/handlers and dogs.
F. Must always hold a current hunt license in the state or states in which he/she hunts.
G. Must renew licensing status as required by UKC.
8.1
Required qualifications for all UKC-licensed Judges. All
applicants must:
A.
Be twenty-one years of age or over, and
B.
Have full mobility to hunt in all types of terrain.
8.2. Required qualifications for Earth Work Hunting Judges. Applicants must either:
A.
Hold and furnish proof of a formal Earth Working Hunting Judge’s license
from the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA),
the Canadian Jack Russell Terrier Association (CJRTA), or other acceptable organization
that licenses earth working
Judges;
or
B. Meet the following criteria:
(1) Have a minimum of two years experience in terrier earth work. Applicant should submit a brief summary of his/her hunting experience, letters of recommendation from experienced earth working Judges and hunters, or any other documentation to verify applicant’s experience.
(2) Have personally worked at least two dogs and a total of four different quarry. Acceptable proof shall be:
(a)
Passing evaluations recorded on UKC Earth Work Evaluation Forms and signed by
UKC-licensed Earth
Working Judges/Senior
Judges.
(b) JRTCA or CJRTA Natural Hunting Certificates, American Working Terrier Association (AWTA) Hunting Certificates or hunting certificates issued by any other organization with an equivalent earth working program.
(3) Have personally titled at least two dogs to an Earth Work Champion title or its equivalent in JRTCA, CJRTA, AWTA or other acceptable organization that offers earth working titles. Acceptable proof shall be copies of the title certificates or other documentation provided by those organizations.
8.3.
Application procedure. Interested applicants
may request an Earth Work Hunting Judge application package from UKC
Field
Operations, 100 E. Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo MI 49002-5584. Complete the application
and the open-book test on the
UKC
Earth Work Hunting rules. Send completed application, with proof of applicant’s
qualifications, along with the completed rules
test to UKC Field Operations.
A.
Successful applicants with two years’ or more experience as a licensed earth
working Judge. Applicants with two or more years
experience as a Hunting Judge for JRTCA, CJRTA or other acceptable earth working
organization shall be issued their Senior
Judge’s
license within 10 days of completed application and test.
B.
Successful applicants with less than two years’ experience as a licensed
earth working Judge. Applicants with less than
two
years experience as a Hunting Judge for JRTCA, CJRTA or other acceptable earth
working organization shall be
issued
their Judge’s license within 10 days of completed application and test.
C.
Successful applicants with no prior judging experience. Successful applicants
will be issued their Apprentice Judge’s
license within 10 days of receipt of completed application and test.
D.
Unsuccessful applicants. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply after a one-year
waiting period from the date applicant
receives notice from UKC.
8.4.
Apprentice Judge. Apprentice Judges may not sign
Hunting Evaluation Forms. Apprentice Judges must apprentice with
UKC-licensed
Senior Earth Work Hunting Judges until they receive at least two letters of recommendation
indicating that the Apprentice
Judge has:
A. Been a primary participant in multiple successful digs.
B. Demonstrated his/her ability to account for quarry by digging to the dog rather than bolting.
C. Demonstrated his/her competency with a locator box/collar and digging tools.
D. Demonstrated the ability to locate and retrieve a dog in the event of equipment failure.
E. Demonstrated his/her ability to make rational and appropriate judgments in high stress situations.
F. Demonstrated knowledge of safe hunting procedures for handlers and dogs.
G. Demonstrated knowledge of UKC rules and policies as they apply to the Earth Work Hunting Program.
8.5
Judge. An Apprentice Judge who submits two letters
of recommendation as described in paragraph 8.4 above shall be
licensed
as an Earth Work Hunting Judge eligible to sign Hunting Evaluation forms.
8.6.
Senior Judge. A Judge who has served as an Earth
Work Hunting Judge for two years may apply to be licensed as a
Senior
Earth Work Hunting Judge, eligible to evaluate Apprentice Judges. Successful applicants
will be issued their
Senior Judge’s
license within 10 days of receipt of their applications. Unsuccessful applicants
may reapply after a one
year waiting
period from the date applicant receives notice from UKC.
Section
9. Reimbursement of Judge’s expenses. Persons
wishing to obtain a Judge’s evaluation of their hunting dog must contact
the Judge to
make arrangements for the hunt. UKC Earth Work Hunting Judges donate their time
because of their dedication to the
preservation
of earth-working instincts in dogs. Remember that Judges have families, dogs and
jobs so be courteous when scheduling a hunt.
Owners
of dogs participating in earth working hunts are responsible for reimbursing Judges
for all expenses related to the hunt. Expenses
include,
but are not limited to, mileage, plane fares, lodging, meals, and out-of-state hunting
license as necessary. Terms of this agreement
must
be settled in writing and signed by the Judge and all members of the cast
in advance of any hunt.
Section
10. Use of alcohol and illegal drugs at UKC-licensed events. The
use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs during
UKC licensed
events
is prohibited.
Violators must be excused from the field for the remainder of the day by the Judge
and the Judge’s decision is final. Hunters
must notify UKC in writing of any Judge who judges a UKC earth working hunt while
under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal drugs.
Section
11. Barring a dog for fighting. Any dog that
is excused pursuant to Section 4.12 for fighting three times within a two-year
period will
be barred from participating in UKC events for two years from the date of the
last excusal.
11.1.
Notice to the registered owner. When three Earth
Work Evaluation Forms have been received by UKC indicating a dog has
been
excused for fighting within a two-year period, UKC will notify the registered
owner(s) of the dog by certified letter. The letter will
include:
A.
The dates the dog was excused for fighting,
B. The names of the Judges who submitted the Earth Work Evaluation Forms
C. The UKC registration number and registered name of the dog,
D. The name and address(s) of the registered owner(s), and
E. The start and end dates of the period during which the dog is barred from participating in UKC events.
11.2.
Returning dog’s UKC registration certificate.
The owner(s) must return the dog’s UKC registration certificate to UKC Field
Operations,
100 E. Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo MI 49002-5584, not later than 30 days from the date
the certified
letter is received. The
certificate will be stamped “BARRED FOR FIGHTING UNTIL[date two years from
the date the dog was last excused for fighting]” and
returned to the registered owner(s).
11.3.
Reinstatement of the dog. At
the end of the two-year period, the registered owner(s) of the dog can return
the registration
certificate,
along with the proper fee, to the UKC Registration Department for the issuance
of a new registration certificate. The dog will
again
be eligible to enter UKC-licensed events. Any further instance of fighting by a dog
after it has been barred for fighting shall result
in
permanent ineligibility to participate in UKC events.
11.4. Penalties for failure to return dog’s registration certificate. If the owner(s) of the dog fail to send in the UKC registration certificate by the deadline indicated in the notification letter, the following additional penalties shall be imposed:
A. The dog may not be transferred into new ownership,
B. No litters will be registered out of or by the dog in question.
Section 12.
Misconduct & Discipline. Hunting with a UKC
Earth Working Judge for the purpose of earning UKC Earth Work
hunting title constitutes a UKC-licensed event.
12.1. Misconduct. Misconduct may be defined as conduct that is prejudicial to the interests of the sport of purebred dogs. There are two general categories of misconduct:
A. Wrongdoing during or associated with a UKC-licensed event. This may include, but is not limited to, threatening, assaulting or battering another individual; falsifying any event-related document; cheating or conspiring to cheat in order to improve the standing of any dog competing at an event; abusing or neglecting a dog in conjunction with an event; and any other UKC event rule infraction.
B. Violation of UKC rules. This may include, but is not limited to, falsification of UKC registration papers; misidentification of a dog or the parentage of a dog; non-event-related abuse or neglect of dogs; or continued failure to keep proper registration records.
12.2. Procedures for handling misconduct during or associated with a UKC-licensed earth working hunt.
A. UKC Standard of conduct. United Kennel Club events are intended to be family-oriented recreation for dog enthusiasts and their UKC-registered dogs. Accordingly, UKC expects the highest standard of conduct at these events. The following procedures apply to all cases of misconduct occurring or associated with a UKC-terrier earth working hunt, regardless of whether the misconduct is discovered during or after the hunt.
B.
Jurisdiction. The Judge, all members of the cast, and any other persons participating
in the hunt in any way, including
spectators and Apprentice Judges are subject to the jurisdiction of the UKC and
are therefore subject to these
UKC standards of conduct and disciplinary procedures. In addition, UKC has jurisdiction
over misconduct
that
may occur off the grounds of the hunt or outside hunt hours. This paragraph
shall be interpreted as broadly as is necessary
to regulate any off-grounds misconduct that is prejudicial to the interests
of the sport of purebred
dogs.
One example of such off-grounds event-related misconduct is abuse of motel
rooms by dogs or persons attending
the events.
C. The complaint. Any person, who becomes aware of an act of event-related misconduct pertaining to anyone other than the Judge during the hours of a UKC-licensed event, must notify the Judge at any time during the hours of the event. The Judge may immediately excuse any individual from the event where there is probable cause to believe that the individual has committed an act of misconduct. Any complaint pertaining to the Judge must be submitted to UKC in writing. The complainant must request a Misconduct Report from UKC Field Operations, 100 E. Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo MI 49002-5584, to complete and submit.
D.
UKC Misconduct Report and Hearing form. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Judge
shall provide the complainant with a
UKC Misconduct Report and Hearing Form. The complainant must complete all of Section
1, providing the following:
The
complainant's name:
The
complainant's address;
The
complainant's daytime, evening phone numbers, and email address;
A
complete factual description of the exact conduct alleged to have occurred, including
the identity of all witnesses, other
persons, and dogs involved in the alleged misconduct; The
specific sections of the pertinent
UKC
rulebook that have allegedly been violated. The Judge shall enter the names, and
where known, the
addresses
daytime and evening phone numbers of all witnesses and cast members in Section
2 of the Misconduct
Report
and Hearing Form. The Misconduct Report and Hearing Form shall be forwarded to
UKC. No
action
will be taken on a Misconduct Report and Hearing Form unless it is signed
and dated by the complainant.
E.
Complaints against the Judge. Any person, who becomes aware of an act of event-related
misconduct on the part of the
Judge, or becomes aware of misconduct after the event, must notify UKC in writing.
UKC staff shall forward to the
complainant a Misconduct Report and Hearing Form. Complainant shall complete Sections
1, 2, and 3 of
the
Misconduct Report and Hearing Form. Section 1 must be filled out completely. Complainant
must fill out as
much of Sections
2 and 3 as he/she is able and return the form to UKC.
12.3. Procedures for handling misconduct not associated with a UKC-licensed event.
A. UKC standard of conduct. UKC dog breeders and owners must comply with all UKC rules, regulations, and policies, as well as all local, county, state and federal government regulations for kennel operations.
B. Jurisdiction. All breeders who register individual dogs or litters with UKC are subject to the jurisdiction of the UKC and are therefore subject to these UKC standards of conduct and disciplinary procedures.
C. The complaint. A person who becomes aware of an act of misconduct not associated with an event must notify UKC in writing. The notification should include all known facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged misconduct; the date of and location where the alleged misconduct occurred; and any witnesses who may have additional knowledge of or information about the alleged misconduct.
12.4 Investigation, findings, and recommendations. UKC staff shall investigate all complaints of misconduct filed in accordance with this rulebook and shall report findings and recommendations to the UKC Hearing Committee.
12.5
Hearing committee.
The UKC Hearing Committee shall consist of such department heads as shall be designated
by
the President
of UKC. The Hearing Committee shall regularly review complaints of misconduct,
along with the results
of
any investigations conducted by UKC staff.
12.6. Penalties for misconduct. If the Hearing Committee finds that misconduct has occurred, one or more of the following penalties shall be imposed:
A.
Probation for a period up to three years. During the period of probation,
the individual shall be closely monitored by UKC.
Any other instance of misconduct may result in immediate suspension or barring
at the discretion of the appropriate
UKC Department Head and without further due process.
B.
Suspension. The Hearing Committee shall impose a minimum Three Hundred Dollar
($300) fine and a minimum
one-year
suspension for probation violations and for most other serious acts of misconduct.
The period of suspension shall
begin upon UKC's mailing of the notification to the respondent via certified mail
(return receipt requested),
but the fine must be paid by certified check or money order before the time
counts toward the sentence. For
example, a person may be notified on January 1 that his penalty will be a
one-year suspension and a fine of three
hundred dollars. This individual will be suspended as soon as notice of the
penalty is mailed by UKC to the respondent,
but
the one-year suspension does not start until the date UKC receives payment
of the fine. If a respondent waits until
March
1 to pay the fine, the suspension will actually run fourteen months until midnight
of February 28 the following year.
C. Barring. The Hearing Committee shall impose barring for an indefinite period of time for repeat instances of misconduct or for the most serious forms of misconduct, including, but not limited to, cruelty to dogs. The period of barring shall begin upon UKC's mailing of the notification to the respondent by certified mail (return receipt requested).
12.7.
Suspension and barring. During the period of
suspension or barring, a person who is suspended or barred:
A.
May not register any dogs in his/her name (joint or individual ownership). No
dog registered in the name of a
suspended/barred
person (joint or individual ownership) may be used for breeding and no offspring
of such a dog is eligible
for registration with UKC. A suspended/barred person may transfer any dogs currently
registered in his/her name
(joint or individual ownership), except that no dog registered in the name of
a suspended/barred person,
regardless of co-ownership status, may be transferred to any member of that person's
family.
B.
May not register any litters or sign any litter registrations in any capacity.
C.
May not enter or participate in any way in any UKC-licensed event. No dog registered
in the name of a suspended/barred
person (joint or individual ownership) may be entered or participate in any way
in any
UKC-licensed
event.
D. May not receive Championship points for any dog registered in his/her name (joint or individual ownership).
E. May not advertise in any UKC publication or Internet site.
12.8.
Appeals. Any person placed on probation, suspended
or barred in accordance with these rules may appeal directly, in writing,
to the UKC President within 30 days of receiving notification of probation, suspension,
or barring. The decision
of the
President is final.
12.9.
UKC Inherent Rights and Powers.
Notwithstanding anything herein, and regardless of whether these procedures are followed,
under UKC's Inherent Rights and Powers, UKC 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.
Section
13. UKC right to inspect and correct all event records. United
Kennel Club, Inc. has the right to inspect all reports,
scorecards
and other documentation from UKC events, and to review those documents for
any reason. In accordance with our
Inherent
Rights and Powers, UKC reserves the right to correct any regardless of whether
or not the documents are properly
signed errors
or make any other adjustments in said documents, by Judges or club officials.
Section 14. Inherent Rights and Powers of UKC (Revised November 18, 1996)
14.1.
United Kennel Club holds and has reserved to itself certain inherent rights and
powers in connection with conducting
its business, registering litters, transferring ownership of dogs, licensing events,
and awarding titles.
These
inherent rights and powers include but are not limited to the following:
14.2.
United Kennel Club has the right to inspect all reports, scorecards and documents
related to UKC events.
Some,
but not all, of the items subject to inspection are:
A.
scores;
B.
disqualification’s of dogs for fighting or other reasons;
C. errors by the recording person; and
D. documentation excluded for any reason.
UKC
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.
14.3. UKC reserves the right to itself and in its sole judgment and discretion, to take such actions and impose