Two stray cats cuddle up together in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: VCG

Good with cats: A stray dog found on the side of a road on a cold Canadian night keeping a litter of kittens warm needs a home.

The two-year-old female mongrel, named Serenity by animal rescue officials, was discovered in a ditch on the side of a rural road near Chatham, Ontario a week ago.

It was -3 C and dark outside, and the dog was covered in a dusting of snow.

When the passerby stopped to help the dog, she found five tiny black kittens "snuggling with her," Myriam Armstrong, a spokeswoman for the Pet and Wildlife Rescue said. 

The heartfelt story of survival and cross-species nurturing has been widely shared on social media. More than 30 people from across the continent have asked about adopting them.

It's not clear how or what brought the dog and the now five-week-old kittens together. 

But Armstrong said their bond continued at the shelter, describing how Serenity doted on the kittens.

AFP