A 3-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier assumed the role of mother for three orphaned kittens in the town of Stoughton, Mass., about 20 minutes outside of Boston.

Ramona was adopted from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Adoption Center by Emma Riley a few years ago. Three weeks ago, Riley added three kittens to her household.

The tiny kittens were found as strays in a Boston parking lot. They were turned over to the MSPCA, and Riley is fostering them until they are old enough to be placed into the adoption program and permanent homes can be found.

Since the arrival of the kittens, Ramona has taken them under her wing as if they were her own. She cleans them, snuggles with them in their crate, plays with them, watches over them while they sleep and even showers them with affection, Riley says.

This came as a surprise to Riley, because when she's temporarily housed kittens before, Ramona always kept her distance.

She's usually shy around kittens, though she's great with other animals and people. After she realized the three kittens weren't wild, she adopted them. They're very affectionate toward Ramona. They think she's their mother, Riley says.

Ramona doesn't fit the stereotype of pit-bull-type dogs being vicious animals, Riley says.

She's very sweet, very smart.

Ramona only has another two weeks left with the kittens, however. When they turn 8 weeks old, they'll be given up for adoption.

I think she's going to miss them, Riley says.

Posted: April 28, 2006, 5 a.m. EST