2024 CCAA Member’s Choice Winner!

Congratulations to CH WindyPine's Wild Coast Zambezi CDX BN RAE CA ACT1 TT RATS CGC TKI aka *ZAMBI* for winning the 2024 CCAA Member’s Choice Award!  Thank you to all the members who took the time to vote for this award!  This was a tight race among 3 very deserving candidates!  Zambi’s family will be presented with her plaque at the Awards Banquet at our 2025 National Specialty!  Congratulations to Stephanie Mericka for Zambi’s achievements!  Below is Zambi’s impressive bio:
 
“Zambi and I enjoyed many successes together in AKC events, with the pinnacle being her CDX and RAE accomplishments. Those were joyous moments of achievement for us, but what made Zambi so remarkable was her versatility, work ethic, and impact on the communities we were a part of. We played in all sorts of dog sports and dabbled in non-AKC things like shed hunting, carting, bitework, and “helping” the working Border Collies on my brother’s farm bring the cows in for milking. She was an extraordinary hiking and backpacking companion, covering hundreds of miles in the Colorado backcountry all the while keeping a keen eye on us, even when being taunted by marmots. Anything I asked of Zambi, she did without hesitation and with an eagerness I will always value in a working dog. The remarks from judges, fellow competitors, trainers, bystanders, and fellow hikers will forever be held close to my heart.
 
When we lost Zambi unexpectedly in December 2024, messages of support poured in from our dog sport and adventure communities. I had no idea she had made such a positive impression on so many people. Without those messages, her loss would have been even more unbearable. She leaves an enormous hole in our hearts but also leaves behind a legacy of an ideal, versatile working companion with the “stability, character, temperament, and vigilance” (Il Cane Corso) of a Cane Corso and a heart of pure gold. – Stephanie Mericka”