Establishing the Pete McMahon Memorial Fund for the Chinook is the best tribute that the Chinook Club of America could give my late husband, Pete.  We have owned and shown Chinooks since 2003, and Judges' Education and Breeders Education was a deep passion for Pete.  When we first started showing, our only venue was UKC and, at shows, Pete would always say "now that is what a Chinook should look like,” or “that dog doesn't look like a Chinook".  He would get so frustrated when a judge put up a Chinook that didn't look or move like the Standard specified.  Pete embraced the AKC Standard that CCA developed, a few years ago, and would always ask me what we were doing to get the word out to the AKC Judges.  He encouraged me to take our Chinooks to as many AKC shows as possible because he wanted the Judges to see what a great Chinook should look like. 

Pete was diagnosed with liver cancer early in 2011, and when he found out that our puppy Basil qualified for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, he insisted that I take Basil to Florida so lots of Judges could see him.  I resisted because I didn't want to leave him.  However, Pete was so determined that we arranged for friends to look after him, and Basil and I went to Orlando .  Shortly after we got home, Pete passed away in his sleep.  I honestly believe he hung in there long enough to see his beloved Chinook, Basil, come home with a beautiful ribbon and a medallion.

Thank you CCA for establishing the Memorial Fund in Pete's name with the contributions going to Judges' and Breeders' Education!  Now that the Chinook is AKC fully recognized, Judge’ Education will be a top priority and funds will be needed.  I’m pleased that Pete had such a great desire to see judges educated, and now he will see that come to fruition.

Joan McMahon

Pete with Basil

Basil

Pete with Booker and Aurora