(Nothing has changed, we are just putting it back at the top for a refresher for our regulars and a place to start for our new members.)
Although we all share one common passion – dogs – we are otherwise a diverse group, with different cultural backgrounds, ages, experience levels, morals and more. In light of this assortment of people, we at the Dog.Community have adopted these forum behavior guidelines:
1.) Each member is allowed one (1) login account. Creating multiple accounts is prohibited and may result in removal of both accounts without notice.
2.) Vulgarities, whether they be language, images or other offensive material, including, but not limited to, race, nudity or pornography will not be tolerated. The administrators and moderators shall be the sole judges of what does and does not violate the board's standards.
3.) Debating and discussion is fine. We encourage it. It's how we all learn. However, respect your fellow members. Different posters are likely to express different opinions, and while they may differ from yours, everyone is entitled to express theirs freely. Whether it is blatant or covert, we will not tolerate rudeness, insults or personal attacks. Do not disrespect, taunt, bother, bug or flame anyone, either on the forum or via private messages or email.
4.) "Trolls” or "Board Wars” will not be tolerated. Posts that are taunting or are otherwise inflammatory against other sites will be removed. Anyone found to be making inflammatory posts and remarks on other forums to start Board Wars will lose their posting privileges here. This rule also applies to those that, for whatever reason, feel a need to post negative remarks about this site on other forums. If you do, don't expect to be welcomed back. Furthermore, we are concerned with the activity of our own Community, not other forum. Inflammatory posts and remarks about the activity of our members on other boards should not be discussed here. If you have a legitimate concern it can be directed to an administrator – through private message or email only – it is not conversation that is acceptable for the boards themselves.
5.) Double posting, or starting two or more threads with the same information in the same or two or more categories, is not allowed and can result in the deletion of one or both posts. We understand that sometimes a topic may fit into multiple categories, but try to pick the best one.
6.) Multiple, repeated or meaningless posting will not be tolerated. Examples of this would be one word, "smiley” only, non-sense posts, etc. If this is done for the sole purpose of increasing your post count, we can prevent your post count from increasing from that point forward.
7.) If you have a problem or complaint about the forum in general, or with another member, please either fill out a ticket or address it directly to the administrators or moderators. They will evaluate the situation and execute the proper actions.
8.) Refrain from posting threads such as "Hey Doglover1234”: if you need to speak to someone or show them something, private message or email them.
9.) Selling or solicitation of anything in the forum will be considered SPAM and is prohibited.
10.) No promotions of related sites, please. Occasionally using the name of other sites or even posting a link to a pertinent article, thread or product is not a problem, but referring to competitors' sites is considered SPAM. Links to pet-related retail sites are not acceptable. Posting links to them, placing them in your signature or profile, private messaging or emailing other members with such information is grounds for disciplinary action.
11.) Do not post links which lead to an affiliate program or any way provide personal gain. Gain is having an affiliate ID, website or if you earn money from banner impressions or click-thru's.
12.) No active links in signatures are allowed. Links to sites for personal gain, live link or not, are not allowed in your signature either. This is also a form of SPAM.
13.) In light of today's litigious society, accusatory and perceived libelous posts, whether stated as fact, perception, or heresay, shall be removed.
14.) As a dynamic and ever-changing community, we can never anticipate every situation that may occur. For this reason, we reserve the right to take any actions we deem appropriate to ensure that members and the forum itself is not abused or mistreated in any way.
These rules may be amended over time without notice.
Violations of the above rules will be dealt with using a "3 Strikes” policy, which consists of the following:
1.) First violation will result in a non-targeted public warning on the thread in question. In cases of vulgar posts, the offensive material will be removed.
2.) Second violation will result in a private warning, either via private message or email.
3.) Third violation will result in a 3 day suspension.
Should any further violations occur, permanent suspension may result.
*Please note that if the need for a suspension should occur outside of business hours the administrators of the site will invoke the suspension at that time and it will be reviewed on the next business day. If the suspension is appropriate, it will stand and will not be lifted until 72 hours after it originally started. Should a suspension not stand the member will receive an email to that effect and their account will be immediately reactivated.
We ask that members keep in mind that membership to this forum is a privilege, NOT a right. As a private forum, the administrator and moderators have total say as to which members are, and are not allowed. The same rule applies for posts and threads; anything deemed to be inappropriate, as defined by these rules, will be removed, and the violators will be disciplined accordingly.
Please remember... While the administrators and moderators of this forum will attempt to remove or edit any generally objectionable material as quickly as possible, it is impossible to review every message. Therefore you acknowledge that all posts made to this forum express the views and opinions of the author and not Dog.com or its administrators, moderators or webmaster (except for posts by these people) and hence will not be held liable.