view our
adoptable
dogs

view our
adoptable
cats

view other
adoptable
animals

Need Answers FAST?
Click here for our Help Center

SERVING PEOPLE. SAVING PETS.

winnebago county animal services is a department of Winnebago County government covering more than 500 square miles and serving the more than 280,000 residents who call Winnebago County home. We provide a number of services including pet licensing and registration, veterinary care to animals in need, animal welfare and cruelty investigations, pet adoptions, and more.  

The Animal Services department cares for an average of 4,000 animals each year, serves all municipalities, and is the only government run animal services/animal sheltering organization in the county.  We work to find homes for pets not reclaimed by their owners. If you are considering adoption we encourage you to view our adoptable pet listings, which are automatically updated every few minutes throughout the day.  If you don’t find the pet you’re looking for at Animal Services, also consider visiting other nonprofit shelters and rescues in the community. 

hours / contact

Shelter/Lobby Hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday-Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: CLOSED
*Please note, all adoptions end 30 minutes prior to closing.

Patrol Hours:
Daily: 7:00 AM. – 12:00 AM (midnight)

Phone: (815) 319-4100
Fax: (815) 319-4101

Main Shelter

4517 North Main Street
Rockford, IL 61103

our services

In addition to pet adoption, WCAS offers services to help keep the pets and people of Winnebago County safe and healthy.

Pet Registration

Pet registration is required by law and a great way to help your pet get back home if they become lost. Plus, these fees fund our services.

Animal Welfare & Investigations

Our team investigates animal welfare and safety concerns. We also offer outreach and education about responsible pet ownership.

Vaccinations & Rabies Control

Regular vaccination is required for all cats and dogs and helps keep our pets and community healthy. Our team investigates bite incidents to prevent the spread of the rabies virus.

Spay/Neuter & TNR

Spaying/neutering pets helps prevent pet overpopulation in our community. Learn more about spay/neutering and our trap-neuter-return (TNR) program to control barn and feral cat populations.

featured
animals
for

adoption

Pablo

Male | 3 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Fergus

Male | 1 yearTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Emma

Female | 6 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Doris

Female | 5 yearsDomestic Longhair
Meet Me

considering adopting?

add a furry member to your family

Winnebago County Animal Services works to find happy and healthy homes for adoptable dogs, cats, and other animals. We make finding and bringing home your new family member easy and affordable.

animal
fostering

interested in becoming a foster?

Fostering is a wonderful and rewarding way to help animals who require a little extra attention and care before they are able to be adopted into a permanent home.

we’re social animals

join our pack

✨🙏Welcome to Wishlist Wednesday! 🙏✨

Each week, on *you guessed it* Wednesday, we're going to share with you our top donation needs!

This week, we're in need of the following items:
✨Kongs
✨Nyla bones
✨Puzzle toys
✨Wet kitten food
...
Donations can be dropped off at our facility OR ordered & shipped to our address
- 4517 N. Main St. Rockford, IL 61103

‼️📢Lets Empty the Shelter‼️ 📢Right now now thru a limited time Winnebago County Animal Services adoption fees will be just $25 for select cats, dogs, and a $50 adoption fee for kittens‼️

Our WIFR TV 23 pet of the week, Mary Kate, did a great job yesterday in spreading the... word about our BISSELL Pet Foundation's Empty the Shelter Event ! Mary Kate is one of the multiple dogs at WCAS wishing for a home today. 3-year old Mary Kate was found wandering a neighborhood and brought in by a kind citizen. Despite our efforts, we were unable to locate her family. She’s been waiting anxiously for a family and we’d love to see her living her best life in a home!

Mary Kate is a sweet and cuddly canine who will always be ready to greet you when she hears the door! Seeing the major butt wiggles and tail wags will ensure any day ends a great one. She loves saying hello to each of her canine neighbors when she passes by them in the kennel. She is a great size at 38 pounds!

📢Please visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire.

🚨PLEASE BE AWARE🚨
We will be opening late today, Tuesday, July 23rd, due to staff training.

We will open today at 12pm and will be open until 5pm.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

🎉🎉 Last week, Winnebago County Animal Services helped 53 pets find adoptive families! This included 40 cats and 13 dogs!🎉🎉

💙💚#EmptyTheShelters is still happening for a limited time!💙💚

📣 ‼️LET'S EMPTY THE SHELTER‼️ Adoption fees will be just... $25 for select cats & dogs, and a $50 adoption fee for kittens‼️
If you are interested in adopting and would like to make a difference in the life of a pet in need now is the time!

We would like to thank the BISSELL Pet Foundation for sponsoring this adoption event and everyone who has participated so far!
For more information on adoptable pets, please visit our website at
www.winnebagoanimals.org .

📣 ‼️Don't forget! Fees are currently reduced for dogs, cats, and kittens at WCAS! $25 adoptions for dogs & adult cats and $50 kitten adoptions thanks to the BISSELL Pet Foundation‼️📣

Whether you've been considering adding a new member to your family or simply ...want a loving companion by your side, this is the perfect chance to make a difference in a furry friend's life. Let's give these deserving pets a second chance at happiness. Together, we can make a lasting impact!

Take a look below at just a few of our adoptable pets with reduced adoption fees!

👉Please visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire.
👉We will be open our normal hours Monday-Friday 11am to 4:30pm and Saturday 11am to 3:30pm.
👉During #EmptytheShelters, adopters are still required to complete a standard adoption application as if it were a normal day.
** Pets available for pre-select adoption do not qualify for this event **

🎥🐾Prim was a happy pup during her Pet of the Week segment on Eyewitness News this morning!🐾🎥

Meet Prim!
Are you looking for a new friend? Look no further! Prim is a young, 6 month old, energetic pup who is looking for a forever family. She is a sweet, playful pup who is ...always up for giving kisses! She loves to learn new tricks for treats. Prim is hoping to master being the "most loyal companion" maybe you can help her out! Prim was brought in as a stray with her "twin" sister Katniss who is also available for adoption!

💙💚#EmptyTheShelters is happening for a limited time! 💙💚
📣 ‼️LET'S EMPTY THE SHELTER‼️ Adoption fees will be just $25 for select cats & dogs, and a $50 adoption fee for kittens‼️

If you are interested in adopting and would like to make a difference in the life of a pet in need now is the time!
We would like to thank the BISSELL Pet Foundation for sponsoring this adoption event and everyone who has participated so far!

For more information on adoptable pets, please visit our website at
www.winnebagoanimals.org .

Looking for something fun to do tonight?
Check out the Midtown Dog Walk!

Ernie’s Midtown Pub Midtown Dog Walk tonight is benefiting WCAS and the WCAS Auxiliary!

They will have all of our delicious food, drink specials, cooling stations for the dogs, bags, giant Jenga, ...music, and fun in the sun with our four legged best friends!

Huge thanks to Ernie’s Midtown Pub and the The Canine Crunchery, Inc. for collecting donations for WCAS!

🎉🎉 Last week, Winnebago County Animal Services helped pets find adoptive families! This included 33 cats, 14 dogs, and 3 ducks!🎉🎉

📣‼️ We were able to find some amazing homes our residents‼️ Now, we have a whole new group of pets in need looking for their forever ...homes!📣

💙💚#EmptyTheShelters is happening for a limited time! 💙💚
📣 ‼️LET'S EMPTY THE SHELTER‼️ Adoption fees will be just $25 for select cats & dogs, and a $50 adoption fee for kittens‼️
If you are interested in adopting and would like to make a difference in the life of a pet in need now is the time!
We would like to thank the BISSELL Pet Foundation for sponsoring this adoption event and everyone who has participated so far!
For more information on adoptable pets, please visit our website at
www.winnebagoanimals.org .

🎥🐾Adoptable kittens Darcy and Buttercup had a great time during their Pet of the Week segment WIFR TV 23 .🐾🎥

‼️📢Lets Empty the Shelter‼️ 📢Don’t forget now thru a limited time Winnebago County Animal Services adoption fees will be just $25 for select cats, dogs,... and a $50 adoption fee for kittens‼️

We have over 80 cats and kittens currently in the building! It's a great time to adopt a feline friend. 😻

All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter, microchip, age appropriate vaccinations, flea and tick preventative, and more. This is a deal you can’t beat!

📢Please visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire. Adopters who fill out a questionnaire online and are approved will be the first to view our adoptable animals.

If you're interested in adopting, visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire. www.winnebagoanimals.org

making news