First off, I was born on December 7, 1986 in Norfolk, Va with a congenital form of bilateral club feet, also known as Congenital Talipes Equinovarus. I was born otherwise healthy and normal. From the time I was born I had a specialist who looked after my feet. His name is Dr. H Sheldon St. Clair, he is still practicing in the Tidewater area and is affiliated with the CHKD (Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters). My parents did every form of correction that was recommended, I went through casting, shoes and when that didn't work, corrective surgery on my right foot, all before I was a year old. As I grew up, I knew I was different from most kids because most kids didn't see an orthopedic surgeon on a regular basis, nor were most kids told to be extra careful with my feet. By the time I was 7 or 8, I knew and had a firm understanding of club feet. I was still being seen regularly by my doctor and was an extremely cooperative x-ray patient. As I grew up, I was fitted for orthotic inserts and still told to limit myself and never push my feet too hard. The problem was, around the time I was fitted for orthotics was around the same time I found my true passion in life, dog shows.
I started off showing Beagles and loved every minute of it, from then I moved to various other breeds such as Great Danes and Clumber Spaniels. While I showed I also harbored a love for a wonderful breed called the Hamiltonstovare. I learned everything I could about them, who bred them, show records, pedigrees, everything (in English) that I could find. My love for Hamiltons was so much that when I entered my freshman year at Old Dominion University, I told my parents that as a college graduation present I wanted a breeding pair of Hamiltonstovare. Little did I know where that would get me. At that time I started contacting various breeders, some were supportive, others seemed lack-luster and only sent a response and left it at that. It was only toward the end of my college career that I started contact with my dogs' breeder. She took me under her wing and made sure that I knew my stuff regarding structure, showmanship, breeding, care and health all well before my Hamilton was a glimmer in my eye. I still thought that my Hamilton was 5-10 years away at most, but little did I know just 18 months after I received my diploma that I would picking up my very own Hamilton from the airport.
This whole time I thought of obtaining a Hamilton as just a pet and show dog, with the hopes of starting my own line in the future. The thought of a service dog never crossed my mind, mainly because my feet were only a mild irritation half the time and not something that would cause so many problems. Oh how fate works sometimes....
Alice on her way home from the airport
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