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Cold Plunge for Cures -
in Loving Memory of Chief
Freezin’ for a Reason - Life-Saving Research.
When: March 14, 3:30 pm ET
Where: Salisbury State Reservation, MA
Sign up to plunge or come show support.
Be sure to join the FB Group for all the updates.
💙Donate to the research fund to help dogs facing cancer.
Chief’s Story
It all started on New Year’s Day, when our friend asked us to do a 5-minute cold plunge. We honestly thought she was crazy, but we said yes. What began as a one-time thing quickly turned into something we couldn’t stop doing. We became addicted, and Chief loved coming with us as he always loved the beach and the water, no matter the season.
Knowing he was sick, those plunges became a special way for us and others who love Chief to spend some of Chief’s last moments with him, sharing those moments and that joy together.
Chief was the kind of dog everyone loved the moment they met him. A true gentle giant, his quiet presence somehow spoke the loudest in any room or on any beach. He didn’t need to demand attention; he just had a way of being there that made people feel calmer, happier, and at home.
He had a goofy side, especially when his beloved ball was involved, but he was just as content simply being outside soaking up the sun, splashing in the water, or trotting through the snow. The weather never mattered to him. What mattered was being out in the world, with his people, doing what he loved. Chief lived with an open heart and a peaceful spirit, and he left paw prints on far more hearts than he ever could have known.
Just a few weeks later, on January 21, 2026, Chief passed away from hemangiosarcoma, a highly aggressive cancer of the blood vessels. Even then, Chief lived his life to the fullest right up to his last day.
The day after his death, I needed to plunge to clear my mind and breathe through the grief. So, the three of us went, and in that moment, something shifted. I decided to plunge in dedication to Chief, and with purpose, and add an extra minute, a 6-minute plunge. That plunge became more than just cold water; it became an idea: to plunge for others, to create space for reflection, for dedications, and for honoring the people and dogs we love.
Chief Chillers was founded in memory of Raylene’s dog, Chief Saguboy, a dog who loved the beach, the water, the people around him, and simply being outside, no matter the weather. When Chief was diagnosed with cancer in November, everything changed for them.
100% of your gift funds cancer research to help dog
Chief Chillers supports research through the Canine Cancer Alliance (CCA), a nonprofit advancing cutting-edge canine cancer science.
With that, Chief Chillers was born. Within a day, a Facebook page was created, letting people know we were here for them and that we could plunge for them or for someone they love.
Then, on what would have been Chief’s 10th birthday, February 3rd, I came up with the idea to turn Chief Chillers into something bigger, to transform the plunges into fundraising for canine cancer research. Nick and Aimee immediately shared the vision and the mission. What started as my idea quickly became a shared purpose: to turn grief into action, and cold plunges into hope for other dogs and families facing cancer.
With my boyfriend Nick Brooks, our friend Aimee Mansfield, and Harlee (Chief's friend), we came together and became Chief Chillers - Freezin' for a Reason
- Raylene Piretti
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Canine Cancer Research
Donations to Chief’s Chillers support canine cancer research through the Canine Cancer Alliance (CCA). Your gift helps advance safer, more effective treatments and accelerate clinical trials for dogs facing aggressive cancers. CCA is a nonprofit committed to driving meaningful scientific progress so dogs have better treatment options and longer, healthier lives.
An example of CCA-supported research includes EGFR/HER2 immunotherapy which is offering new hope for dogs with osteosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma, with early results pointing toward the possibility of longer-term survival. To learn more about the research projects supported by CCA, please visit https://www.ccralliance.org/.
Life-saving research for prevention and cures
To Donate with a Check
Please write a check out to Canine Cancer Alliance and mail it to:
Canine Cancer Alliance
6513 132nd Ave NE, Suite 126
Kirkland, WA 98033
Kindly fill out this form and include it with your check donation.
Your donation is tax-deductible.
The Federal Tax ID number is 82-3762441.