POPULAR myth may have it that cats and dogs are sworn enemies - but try telling that to Pepper the weimaraner.

Pepper is living proof that nothing gets in the way of true mother love, not even a little thing like a brood of a different species.

The 63lb hunting dog proved it was a big softie at heart when it was confronted by a litter of orphaned kittens at its home at Terrington, near Malton, North Yorkshire.

Just half-an-hour after meeting the youngsters, it was suckling and washing its new-found family.

Pepper's owner, Bea Ademola, was given the kittens because she had experience of hand-rearing animals and owns four cats.

But her cats were not interested in the kittens, making way for Pepper.

Mrs Ademola said: "Pepper wasn't sure what was happening, and after about half an hour she became interested, so I gently put one of the kittens down on her back and she was sniffing at it.

"I put another one on her and they started suckling.

"She lets them all suckle and cleans them, helps them and rubs them, but she isn't producing milk.

"Without Pepper I think they would have survived because I have been feeding them, but she certainly made my life easier because they had animal warmth and the comfort from that.

"They do snuggle up to her. I've woken up in the morning and heard purring and suckling."

Pepper, who is four-and-a-half years old, has given birth to one litter of puppies so is an experienced mother.