Chris Frado Wentworth - 2023 - Volunteer of the Year

Chris Frado Wentworth - Hall of FameChris Frado Wentworth has contributed to the sport’s development and growth regionally and nationally earning her the honor of Volunteer of the Year.  

Chris took her dog, Bandit, a wolf hybrid, through the ranks in obedience and was looking to compete in other sports when she saw a flyer for Julie Daniels’ "Introduction to Dog Agility." That class sparked the creation of Canine Agility Training Society (CATS), Inc., by the late 1980s. Chris joined with Leslie Vassall and Judy Davis to bring the fun of agility to others around New Hampshire. Since then, CATS has become one of the nation’s three oldest operational dog agility clubs, hosting numerous USDAA trials.  

Chris has been volunteering since 1989 and is best known as the “publicizer” for everything related to CATS. As a founding member, Chris helped to write the club bylaws and has served in every capacity on the Board of Directors over the years. She has been elected president many times, chairs the club’s two USDAA trials each year, maintains the website and Facebook page, and helps with the seminars and Groundskeeping Committee. Chris has also offered “Intro to USDAA” and “Intro to Snooker” webinars to continue expanding the club’s reach.  

She has trained seven dogs through the sport, including the late Bandit, and enjoys being such a large part of this fun, dog-loving community. Among the achievements of which she is most proud are: 

  • Bingo still holds the record for the highest number of titling Qs for a German Shepherd Dog (GSD) in USDAA history, followed by her “Shepherd Sisters” and their dogs for #2 and #3 spots. Bingo reached the level of Performance Dog Champion-Silver, earned a Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA)-Silver and had several Gold titles.  
  • GSD Snoop Doggy Dog is #4 for total Qs by a GSD in USDAA history.  
  • Together Bingo and Snoop Doggy Dog are the only two GSDs in USDAA history to earn Veteran Versatility Dog titles.  
  • Miso Happy, her “borrowed” Portuguese Water Dog (PWD), is the 4th PWD to earn a Performance Dog Champion-Bronze and LAA-Bronze.