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OUR MISSION

Health first. 
Always
For every animal. 

Every animal produced in Australia deserves to be born of health-tested parents. Every buyer deserves to know it. 

This is the principle that ITBR was built on. It is not qualified by breed type, registry pathway, or the commercial pressures of the breeder. It applies equally to a sixth generation show dog to a first generation extension pedigree working dog. If an ITBR certificate exists for an animal, the parents were tested. 

MISSION IN PRACTICE

Three Pillars

ITBR's mission is expressed through three operating commitments that shape every decision the organisation makes. 

1

PILLAR ONE

Make health testing the price of entry every time

Traditional registries require health testing for some animals in some circumstances. ITBR requires it for all animals in all circumstances. There is no pathway into the ITBR registry that does not require both parents to have completed all applicable compulsory DNA health tests before any mating. This includes all pedigree types. 

  • Orivet full breed profile or equivalent required for all breeding animals before mating

  • Heritage certificate parents tested against conditions for both parents breeds

  • Developing breed applications tested at every generation as specified on their breeding plan

  • Results stored on the ITBR database and printed one every certificate

  • Genetic compatibility checked by breeder at time of mating and checked by ITBR at time of litter registration

2

PILLAR TWO

Give buyers the information they need to choose well

A buyer purchasing a puppy or kitten from an ITBR registered breeder receives a certificate that tells them exactly what the parents were tested for and their results. As well as a pedigree highlighting the ancestry of their beloved pet. 

  • Parent health test results provided with every pedigree - clear, carrier or affected listed by condition

  • Public breeder directory updated on the first business day of each month

  • Breeders' name, suburb, phone number, email, website and regisitered breeds publicly listed

  • Regisitry type clearly stated on all certificates - buyer know if an animal is limited register or not pure in heritage

  • Heritage Certificate clearly distinguished from pedigree on document face

3

PILLAR THREE

Hold breeders accountable with real consequences

Standards without enforcement are suggestions. ITBR's disciplinary process is formal and documented. Financial penalties apply to confirmed breaches in addition to other disciplinary consequences. The complaints process is published on this website and accesable to all members and general public. Membership cancellations that are relevant to public safety are published. Breeders who leave ITBR carry their disciplinary history if they seek to re-join. 

  • Complaints form is open to buyers, veterinarians and members of the public

  • Financial penalties are issued for breaches 

  • Fines applied in addition to warnings, suspension or cancellation

  • Fraudulent documents will lead to membership cancellation

  • relevant cancellations published on the ITBR website for public safety

Est. 
50%+
of Australian puppies sold are crossbreds, produced largely without any health testing due to lack of acceptance from other breeding registries

Why ITBR includes the Heritage Certificate

The Heritage Certificate is the most distinctive and most discussed element of the ITBR framework. It is also the clearest expression of the mission. 

Crossbred animals make up a enormous proportion of Australian puppies and kittens being sold. Traditional registries do not touch them. This means the breeders producing them face no health testing requirements, lack of information and genetic availability to produce a healthy litter. 

ITBR's position is straight forward. If these animals are going to be produced in Australia regardless (and they are) then the parents should be health tested and the buyers should get documentation. The Heritage Certificate does not endorses crossbreeding as equivalent to purebred breeding. It simply applies the same principles across all programs.

Heritage Certificate offspring are always on the Limited Register. They can not be bred from unless they are already a part of an approved Developing Breed program.

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