What
are the benefits of being a member of the ARBA?
Membership in the ARBA includes a
membership card, subscription to the ARBA magazine Domestic
Rabbits (published on the 15th of each odd month), the
Official Guidebook - Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies (upon
initial application), the ARBA Yearbook (received annually), the
option of using the Registration and Grand Champion programs, and
access to a wealth of information and other materials.
Do I have to
raise rabbits or cavies to become a member of the ARBA?
No, anyone is welcome to join the ARBA.
We are a service organization that caters to anyone interested in
the rabbit and cavy hobby on a pet, fancy (exhibition), or
commercial level. Simply click the "Join Us" link at the
top of the page and you will be directed to our Shopping Cart,
where you will find the form to join our organization.
How long is my
membership good for, and when can I renew?
The ARBA has one year or three year
memberships. The term of a membership expires 1 or 3 years from
the date you join, depending on the term you choose. Once you have
become a member of the ARBA, you may renew at any time, and the
period of renewal (1 or 3 years) is simply extended from your
current expiration date. Your expiration does not change once you
have become a member, unless special circumstances warrant such.
You do not have to wait until your membership is expired, or is
due to expire, before you can renew. notices are mailed one month
prior to your expiration date as a reminder, and also one month
after your expiration date if a renew is not received.
What do I have
to do in order to become a registered breeder?
There
is really no status of a "registered breeder" as far as
the ARBA is concerned. Anyone may breed and raise rabbits or
cavies by simply starting with a male and female. You may wish to
check with your local authorities however, to insure there are no
ordinances against you raising rabbits or cavies.
The ARBA offers the privilege to members
of registering their rabbits, cavies, rabbitry or caviary name,
however this is not necessary in order to be a member of the ARBA.
How do I
register my rabbits or cavies?
In order to register your rabbits or
cavies, you must be a member of the ARBA. The rabbit or cavy must
be at least 6 months of age, and you must have a 3 generation
pedigree for the animal being registered. The pedigree must show
the name and/or ear number, weight, and variety of the parents,
grandparents, and great-grandparents (3 generations) of the animal
being registered. (all ancestors in the 3 generations MUST be of
the same breed as the animal being registered). A licensed
Registrar for the species must examine the animal and fill out an
application for registration, which is sent to the ARBA office.
The information for the registered animal is then entered into our
computer system and we have a record of that animal for all time.
A certificate of registration for the animal is then sent to you.
Registration fee for a rabbit or cavy is $6.00 per animal.
How do I
register my rabbitry or caviary?
In order to register your rabbitry or caviary, you must be a
member of the ARBA. You would fill out a Rabbitry/Caviary
registration form and submit it to the ARBA office. On this form
is your information (name and address), and the name of the
rabbitry or caviary you wish to register. Our files are checked to
insure the name is not already registered by someone else, as the
same name cannot be registered by more than one person. It is a
good idea to list 3 choices on the registration form, in case your
original choice is already taken. Once processed, a certificate of
registration for your rabbitry or caviary is sent to you. Fee for
registering a rabbitry or caviary is $5.00 for the name and one
owner. Additional owners may be added for $2.00 per person. Once a
rabbitry or caviary is registered, it is good for as long as all
members listed as owners remain ARBA members in good standing. If
one person listed as an owner allows their ARBA membership to
lapse, the rabbitry/caviary registration becomes void. It is then
necessary to re-register the rabbitry again.
How can I get a
breed or variety recognized that is not already in the Standard of
Perfection?
In order to introduce a new breed or variety of a rabbit or cavy
which is not already recognized by the ARBA, you must first obtain
a Certificate of Development (COD) for the proposed breed or
variety. This can be done by submitting a letter requesting the
COD with a written proposed standard for the breed or variety, and
accompanied with a non-refundable fee of $50.00.
You must have been a member of the ARBA
for 5 continuous years at the time of application.
Upon approval by the ARBA Standards
Committee of the materials submitted, a Certificate of Development
will be issued. There are further criteria and details which can
be found in the ARBA Standard of Perfection or by contacting the
ARBA office.
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