City Council honors bloodhound

Champion Quiet Creek’s Mi Amour, a bloodhound known familiarly as Rita, was honored Tuesday for her dedication to her career that has made her a star at the highest level of dog shows.

Bred and owned by Susan Hamil and Evelyn Jones, Rita was judged Best of Breed at the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. It takes more than good looks to be a winner — it takes attitude and the desire to be the leader of the pack.

Although closely related to career police canines, Rita really responds to competition in the show ring, according to Hamil.

“She loves it,” Hamil said Tuesday.

Rita reacted with aplomb Tuesday to the applause of the audience and the council members.

“She thinks she is a rock star,” said Hamil,

This was the second consecutive year that Rita took the honors as best of the breed at the most prestigious of dog shows. She also has won several Best of Show Awards, although not yet at Westminster.

“She is only 6 and the winner this year is 10,” said Hamil, wife of veterinarian John Hamil.

The Hamils own Canyon Animal Hospital on Laguna Canyon Road and are very involved in animal rescues.

Rita was born Feb. 5, 2003. As the breeder, Hamil had pick of the litter.

Asked why she chose Rita, Hamil said, “She looked really special and she loved me.”

Bloodhounds are specifically bred to track humans, alive or dead, by scent. They can track a scent that is hours or even days old over long distances.

They generally weigh between 80 and 100 pounds, although some have been known to tip the scale at 160 pounds. But they are not fat, just heavy boned.

The heavy wrinkles on the forehead droop down to protect the dog’s eyes when it lowers its head to track a scent. The characteristic bloodshot eyes are a result of the drooping lower lid, Hamil said. .

The Hamils also owned the bloodhound that starred as Hubert in “Best of Show.”

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 380-4321 or coastlinepilot@latimes.com.