Eastern Niagara Animal Welfare Alliance, Inc. had a present under its tree just in time for the holidays. The gift was signed from a generous anonymous donor.

The anonymous individual donate a small yellow school bus to the animal rescue organization, located in Lockport.

The bus has been named Paws on Wheels.

It will be used in transporting greater numbers of Niagara County cats and dogs to low-cost spay and neuter clinics beginning this February.

The spay and neuter initiative has been a key mission of the Eastern Niagara Animal Welfare Alliance group to reach out and specifically help low income individuals and families, who otherwise could not afford these services for companion pets, as well as strays.

According to Bobbie Mael, executive director of Eastern Niagara Animal Welfare Alliance, their organization has seen a dramatic increase in the number of individuals calling for help with these type of services, as well as, for help with caring for the strays left out in the streets this winter.

"Due to the economic down turn in the economy and job loss in this area, the calls keep coming in at an ever increasing pace," said Mael. "This generous gesture shows that people really do care about the animals and don't want to see them suffer needlessly."

This donation will help address the ever increasing problem of overpopulation, especially in the cat population, throughout Niagara County.

There are plans to use the Paws on Wheels bus as a mobile adoption unit later this spring and summer.

Honk when you see the little yellow school bus painted with cats, dogs and- paws on the outside, as it moves throughout Niagara County this year.

"From all the cats and dogs in Niagara County, a special thank you to the anonymous donor of Paws on Wheels," said Mael. "There really is a Santa Claus."

For more information, visit www.easternniagaraanimalwelfare.org.

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