Club Information - Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of America

The parent club for the Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety, the Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of America (MASCA) was formed in 1996 by a dedicated group of enthusiasts in response to the need for a central organization running a straightforward registry and providing fair and consistent management of the mini Aussie. When the club started there were several objectives set by the founders of the MASCA: To have a completely documented and clearly honest registry. To sponsor and support shows and trials, providing the opportunity for fans to see the dogs and for Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety owners to showcase their own dogs. To have a breed standard that accurately reflects the mini Aussie as a size variety of the Australian Shepherd. To manage a fair process to educate judges regarding the breed standard. To provide information to people interested in the mini Aussie. To pursue further recognition when the variety becomes populous enough and when breeders have proven that they are breeding sound, consistently typey dogs of the correct temperament and instinct. The first challenge was the establishment of a sound registry and registration process. MASCA uses a computer-based registry and supporting procedures. This allows the registrar to produce consistent and correct information for every registered dog. There can be no case where separate requests for information about the same dog result in different outputs. Because it was felt that every owner had the right to all information available about his or her dog, the MASCA registration certificate automatically includes a computer-generated four generation pedigree. In this we are unique in the world of the Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety.

• To protect the health, type, temperament and instinct and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Australian Shepherds of the miniature variety (including preventing the sale of puppies through pet stores)

• To maintain a completely documented, accurate and secure registry and recording database for Australian Shepherds of the miniature variety

• To maintain a standard reflecting the ideal consistent with genetically achievable goals of the Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety to urge members to accept the MASCA standard as the only standard of excellence by which Australian Shepherds of the miniature variety shall be judged and to manage a fair process to educate judges in the MASCA standard

• To promote the formation of affiliated clubs in those localities where there are sufficient fanciers to meet the requirements

• To sanction conformation shows, herding trials, obedience trials, agility trials and performance events, and to encourage sportsmanlike participation by members in all forms of competition

• To pursue further recognition as the variety becomes populous enough and when breeders have demonstrated that they are breeding sound, consistently typey dogs of the correct instinct and temperament

• To educate members, enthusiasts and the general public through all available venues whenever possible.

Our objectives are To protect the health, type, temperament and instinct and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Australian Shepherds of the miniature variety through reputable breeders. To maintain a completely documented and accurate registry and recording database for Australian Shepherds of the miniature variety. To maintain a standard reflecting the ideal consistent with genetically achievable goals of the Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety. To urge members to accept the MASCA standard as the only standard of excellence by which Australian Shepherds of the miniature variety shall be judged. To manage a fair process to educate judges in the MASCA standard. To promote the formation of affiliated clubs. To sanction conformation shows, and offer titles in conformation, herding, obedience, agility and other performance events. To encourage sportsmanlike participation by members in all forms of competition. To pursue further recognition for this variety. To educate members, enthusiasts and the general public through all available avenues whenever possible.

Meet the Board of Directors

Revised February 25 2020

All MASCA Members are representatives of the Club and of the breed. They are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which brings respect to the Club and to the breed displaying good sportsmanship, civility, honesty and responsibility for their dogs and themselves at all times. All MASCA Members have an obligation to protect the Miniature Australian Shepherd and its future by welcoming new owners and facilitating their education about the breed and the Club, by realistically and honestly portraying the qualities of the breed and their dogs, and by adhering to responsible ownership and breeding practices.

Section 1 All MASCA Members shall:

a) Abide by the MASCA Bylaws

b) Encourage and maintain the best accepted, reasonable and responsible standards of canine health, hygiene, feeding, care and training.

c) Encourage and support participation in the Litter Database maintained by MASCA

d) Be mentors for the breed willingly sharing their knowledge and experience related to Miniature Australian Shepherds and information related to participation in dog sports and activities with others.

e) Not sell, place or consign any Miniature Australian Shepherd to a commercial facility, business or agent thereof.

f) Not relinquish a Miniature Australian Shepherd to an animal shelter.

Section 2 All MASCA Members who breed their dogs, whether brood bitch owner or stud dog owner should:

a) Utilize available health tests available for the breed, in an effort to minimize or eliminate the occurrence of disease affected puppies /dogs.

b) Educate themselves on the MASCA Breed Standard and breed dogs conforming to the standard.

c) To the best of their ability, evaluate puppies /dogs and the prospective placement homes for compatibility to strive for life long placements.

d) To the best of their ability verify that the people with whom they place puppies /dogs will provide a suitable home and be responsible owners.

e) Conduct all business dealings related to the breeding or the placement of puppies /dogs with honesty, completeness and clarity and advertise honestly in a manner that is in no way misleading or fraudulent.

f) Assume lifelong responsibility for any and all puppies they produce.

g) Conduct business with a comprehensive written contract to avoid misconceptions and confusion at the time of the transaction and in the future.

Certain voluntary programs within the club may have more stringent expectations, recommendations or requirements for participation than are defined by this document.

This Code of Ethical Conduct outlines the expectations of appropriate behavior for all MASCA members and strives to educate all members as to those expectations.

MASCA BYLAWS

MASCA HISTORY

OUR MISSION

WHAT WE DO

Code Of Ethics

Contact MASCA at mascainformation@gmail.com