For those of you who cannot adopt a pet, here's a way to sort of have one ... sponsor a cage at the Lake Humane Society.

For $15 a month, you can provide shelter, food, bedding and medical care for the animals calling the Mentor facility their temporary home.

Each of the shelter's more than 100 cages are available for sponsorship. Fees can be paid in cash, check or major credit card.

To be come a cage sponsor, call the shelter at 440-951-6122 or visit its Web site at www.lakehumane.org.

This year, the shelter, at 7564 Tyler Blvd., Building E, has seen an increase in owner-surrendered animals because of housing foreclosures, officials said.

Contributions also lagged behind previous years, causing the shelter to cut back services and staff.

-- Robin Palmer