A website designed for offloading household goods is being used to get rid of unwanted pets, an animal charity has warned.

Cats and other animals are being offered through the Carlisle Freecycling website, on which web users offer their unwanted household goods.

One guinea pig was rehomed three times through the website, and Joanne Park, fosterer and volunteer for Animal Concern Cumbria’s North Lakes and Solway branch, has warned moving animals about in such a way is unhealthy.

She said: “There is a great list of items on this website, and in among them is a six-year-old cat.

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