Purpose

The Land Hermit Crab Owners Society (LHCOS) is committed to ethical education, conservation, and community engagement. This Code of Conduct & Ethics outlines the standards of behavior expected of all individuals and organizations engaging with LHCOS.

These standards exist to protect animal welfare, maintain public trust, and ensure a respectful, inclusive environment for learning and collaboration.

Who This Applies To

This Code applies to:

  • Board members, officers, and volunteers
  • Program participants and applicants
  • Approved Sellers and partner organizations
  • Event speakers, vendors, and attendees
  • Contributors and community members engaging in LHCOS spaces, online or in person

Core Ethical Principles

Animal Welfare First

All actions, education, and partnerships must prioritize the health, welfare, and ethical treatment of land hermit crabs. Practices that cause harm, promote misinformation, or encourage unethical sourcing are not aligned with LHCOS values.

Conservation Responsibility

LHCOS supports efforts that reduce harm to wild populations, promote responsible stewardship, and advance conservation-minded education and practices.

Honesty & Transparency

Individuals and organizations must communicate truthfully, disclose relevant relationships or conflicts of interest, and avoid misleading claims or representations.

Respect & Inclusion

LHCOS is committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive environment. Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or abusive behavior will not be tolerated.

Professional Conduct

Those representing or engaging with LHCOS are expected to:

  • Act with integrity and professionalism
  • Communicate respectfully, even in disagreement
  • Follow program guidelines and policies
  • Respect boundaries, decisions, and review processes
  • Avoid actions that could damage trust in LHCOS or its mission

Conflicts of Interest

Individuals must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence decision-making, recommendations, or representation of LHCOS.

Participation in LHCOS programs does not permit the use of LHCOS affiliation to imply endorsement, authority, or control where none exists.

Educational Integrity

Educational content and guidance associated with LHCOS must be:

  • Accurate to the best available knowledge at the time
  • Clearly distinguished from personal opinion
  • Free from undisclosed commercial influence
  • Presented with appropriate context and attribution

Community & Online Spaces

LHCOS-managed online spaces, events, and forums are intended for education and constructive engagement.

Prohibited behavior includes:

  • Harassment, bullying, or personal attacks
  • Spreading misinformation intentionally
  • Promotion of harmful or unethical practices
  • Misuse of LHCOS platforms for personal or commercial gain

LHCOS reserves the right to moderate, remove content, or restrict access to protect community standards.

Reporting Concerns

Concerns regarding violations of this Code may be reported through LHCOS’s official contact channels. Reports should include sufficient detail to allow appropriate review.

All reports are reviewed in good faith. Retaliation for raising concerns is not permitted.

Enforcement

Violations of this Code may result in actions including:

  • Warnings or corrective guidance
  • Removal from programs, events, or platforms
  • Revocation of approval or partnership status
  • Referral to the LHCOS Board of Directors for review

Enforcement actions are determined based on severity, context, and impact.

Relationship to Other Policies

This Code of Conduct & Ethics works in conjunction with other LHCOS policies, including:

Policy Updates

This Code may be updated periodically to reflect evolving best practices, legal requirements, or organizational needs. Continued engagement with LHCOS constitutes acceptance of the current version.