Photographer's pictures capture beauty of black dogs to counter theory they're less likely to be adopted

It was a summer day at the dog park when Fred Levy, a professional pet photographer, overheard a conversation that he couldn't shake off.

A woman was talking about "Black Dog Syndrome" - a theory that black dogs are less likely to be adopted than those with lighter coats, perhaps because of superstition or a notion that black dogs are aggressive. Experts debate whether it's a myth or reality, but it struck Levy.

"A dog shouldn't be overlooked just because of its coat," Levy said. "That's a minor element when it comes to the dog."

That dog park visit was almost two years ago, but it inspired Levy to take on a project that's still gaining international attention. He calls it the Black Dogs Project, a photo series that features black dogs against black backdrops, aiming to capture their beauty and counter negative stereotypes people might hold.

The photos struck a chord online and quickly went viral. Commenters raved about the striking details Levy brought out in each portrait - the soulful eyes, that one floppy ear, a Poodle's ears blossoming with fur. The microblogging website Tumblr counted Levy's blog among its "most-viral" of 2014.

Levy, 45, did it all in the basement studio of his home, where he lives with his wife, two young boys and a black-and-white rat terrier named Toby.