She took in a neighbor's dog that had been left to roam around the neighborhood. Her husband was the one to point out she now owned one of America's most maligned breeds.

Now, years later, Richardson has rescued Chewy, another cast-off pit bull, and brought him to the Paws4Ever Training Center for some breed-specific education.

Amanda Sheets, president of Carolina Care Bullies Rescue, teaches "Basic Education for Bully Breeds," a training course for owners of American pit bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, American bulldogs and pit mixes.

She says these dogs, collectively known as pit bulls, are unfairly portrayed in popular culture as vicious and unstable, when in fact the animals are intelligent, devoted and affectionate. She blames over-breeding, irresponsible owners and media sensationalism for ruining the reputation of the dog that used to be America's mascot.

Sheets is familiar with the phenomenon of "accidental" pit bull owners: animal lovers who never expected to adopt one of the bully breeds, but find themselves rescuing animals from less than ideal circumstances.

"So many of these dogs are disposed of, everybody at some point comes across a pit bull puppy," she said. "People take them in because they're so sweet."

This rings true for many owners in the class.

Erin Lewis adopted 5-year-old Samoa from a shelter after the dog was found abandoned on the streets. She says her dog is even-tempered and outgoing, a far cry from the stereotypical pit mix.

"People hear the word 'pit bull' and they have preconceived notions before they even meet the dog," she said. Having worked in vet clinics for years, Lewis says she's seen plenty of cast-off pit bulls. Statistics from shelters across the country suggest indiscriminate breeding of pit bulls is creating a growing overpopulation problem. Hello Bully, a Pittsburgh-based advocacy group, estimates only one in 600 pit bulls ends up in a stable home.

The owners in the Bully Breeds class say that despite suffering neglect in the past, their dogs are playful, affectionate and eager to please. They say the rewards of owning the breed outweigh the burdens of added responsibility and social stigma.

Though the devotion of the dogs breeds loyalty among owners, Sheets warns that owning a pit mix can be a challenge.

"You have to learn about the breed," she said. "Just because a pit bull is good with people doesn't mean it will be good with other dogs."

Pit bulls have been bred for fighting for more than a century, and as a result, aggression towards other dogs is a legitimate concern, she said.

"It's true these dogs were bred to fight, and genetics will kick in," she said. "They reach an age of maturity at which they might not get along with other dogs." Sheets recommends supervised play groups to help socialize puppies under one year old, and suggests that owners of mature pit bulls avoid doggie day care and off-leash dog parks.

Andrew Ball says socialization and training are the main reasons he signed his dog Little Bit up for the course.

"I wanted to expose her to other dogs in a safe environment," he said. "I've definitely seen a difference; she's calmer, more obedient. It was tough at first to keep her focused, but each class has become less of a strain."

Sheets says good training and education are key components of responsible ownership. "Good owners educate themselves and become pit bull advocates. I've seen cases where a pit bull adopts a person and it changes their whole life."

The next Basic Education for Bully Breeds class will be taught in the spring of 2010. For more information contact amanda@paws4ever.org.