Single $25.00 - one adult who holds individual voting privileges. Couple $35.00 - Two adult persons residing at the same address (Each household member holds individual voting privileges.)
Election to Membership
The Bull Terrier Club of Tampa Bay is committed to
equal opportunity in membership and all club activities. This means that we
will not discriminate or in any way treat anyone less favorably, on grounds of
gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, color, religion
or disability. There shall be two types of
membership, regular individual and regular as a member of a couple/household,
open to all persons eighteen (18) years of age and older, who are in good
standing with The American Kennel Club, and who subscribe to the purposes of
the club as outlined in Article I, Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 of this Constitution
and By-Laws.Such Regular Members
shall be entitled to the full rights and privileges of membership.While membership is to be unrestricted
as to residence, the club’s primary purpose is to be representative of the
Members in our geographic area. Persons under eighteen (18) years of age are
eligible to become Junior Members of the club. Such Junior members will have
all the rights and privileges of membership with the exception of voting at
club meetings and for officers. Junior membership may automatically convert to
an Individual or Couple/Household membership upon reaching their 18th birthday.
Each applicant for
membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and
which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the Constitution,
By-Laws and rules of The American Kennel Club and The Bull Terrier Club of
Tampa Bay.The application shall
carry the name(s), address and telephone number of the applicant(s) and it
shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing. Accompanying the
application, the prospective member(s) shall submit dues pro-rated for the
current year. All applications and pro-rated dues for the current year are to
be filed with the Secretary and the Secretary shall notify the membership of
the name of the applicant(s). Each application is to be read at the first Board
meeting of the club following receipt. Applicants for membership are encouraged
to attend a club meeting prior to having their names presented. At the
following Board meeting, the applications will be voted in a secret vote, and
the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the Board shall be required to elect the
applicant(s) to membership unless there has been a written objection to the
applicant(s) filed with the Secretary. In the event of such written objection,
there shall be a secret vote at the club meeting of members in good standing
and an affirmative vote of two thirds of the members voting at that meeting
shall be required to elect the applicant(s). Applicants for membership who have
been rejected by the club may not re-apply within six months of such rejection.
The objectives of the club shall be:
a)To encourage and promote
quality in the breeding of purebred Bull Terriers and to do all possible to
bring the natural qualities to perfection;
b)To urge members and breeders
to accept the standard of the breed as approved by The American Kennel Club as
the only standard of excellence by which Bull Terriers shall be judged;
c)To do all in its power to
protect and advance the interests of the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike
competition at dog show, obedience trials and other events under the auspices
of The American Kennel Club;
d)To do all in its power to
oppose and prevent all forms of cruelty and inhumane practices toward dogs;
e)To promote friendship and
cooperation amongmembers, breeders and exhibitors of Bull Terriers, and to encourage
and assist them in every possible way for the benefit of the breed; and
f)To aid in the passage of
favorable and just legislation for the health and welfare of Bull Terriers.
As a matter of policy, the club stands absolutely opposed
to dog fighting and any activities related thereto, such as participating in,
or breeding, training, buying and/or selling dogs for the purpose of fighting.
Strict adherence to this policy is required to be eligible for membership or to
remain a member in good standing of the club.
Why Membership?
People who know our breed, the English Bull Terrier, understand how
wonderful these dogs are and what extraordinary pets they make. Not
every one who owns a bully, or who has a special connection with the
breed realizes why membership in a regional club is important, aside
from the social aspect. There are people who fear Bull Terriers,
who know nothing about them, but who want to classify them with other
“Bully Breeds” and outlaw or restrict them from communities, cities and
even states with breed specific laws. There are people who feel that
breeding or owning a pure bred dog is morally equivalent to murder as
long as there are any dogs available in shelters. There are people who
still engage in the crime of dog fighting and who steal Bull Terriers
as “bait dogs.” There are people who breed Bull Terriers only for
money, and do not consider whether their dogs harm the breed with
inherited defects, or whether their dogs go to homes that are
appropriate. There are also people who cannot, for whatever reason,
provide care for their dogs, and these animals desperately need help.
The Bull Terrier Club of Tampa Bay is not a political club, and never
will be, but its members, by banding together provides education to the
public, and demonstrates that there is a community of dog lovers (and
voters) that are active and responsible and working to make a positive
contribution to the breed we love. Benjamin Franklin said, “We must,
indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang
separately.” We are in dangerous times and joining the BTCTB is
important if you love bullies.
Membership Misconceptions:
1) Is club membership limited to people who live in the Tampa Bay area?
No. Our bylaws state, “While membership is to be unrestricted as to
residence, the club’s primary purpose is to be representative of the
members in its immediate geographic area.” We are currently the only
Bull Terrier club in Florida and our members live throughout the state.
There are also club members who live in other states that have a
special connection with Florida or our club. 2) Do you have to own a Bull Terrier to be in the club?
No. Most of our members do, but not all. Some members have owned
bullies in the past. We have some members that have never had the
pleasure of living with a Bull Terrier. 3) Do you have to be involved in the “show dog” world if you are a member?
No, some of our members do or have shown dogs or breed dogs for
showing, or judged dogs in the show ring, but many, if not most of our
members associate with Bull Terriers solely for love and companionship.