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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 - 7:00 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

Tilly

Female | 7 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Rango

Male | 4 yearsTerrier, American Staffordshire
Meet Me

Papi

Male | 2 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

NOVA

Female | 9 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Mae

Female | 5 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Frappe

Female | 5 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Tucker

Male | 8 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Koda

Male | 10 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Anyx

Female | 4 yearsDomestic Shorthair
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

✨🙏It's Wishlist Wednesday! 🙏✨

(Our model is Frosted Flake A0056582647, who is currently available for adoption at our facility here in Rockford, IL!)

This week, we're in need of the following items:
✨Wet Kitten Food

Donations can be dropped off ...at our facility OR ordered & shipped to our address
- 4517 N. Main St. Rockford, IL 61103

🎉🎉 Last week, Winnebago County Animal Services helped 50 pets find adoptive families! This included 42 cats and 8 dogs🎉🎉

Our Fall for a Feline Adoption Event was a huge success in helping us find homes for over 40 cats and kittens!

We would like to extend a huge THANK... YOU to our volunteers who assisted with adoptions and all those who took part in the event by adopting!

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

“Nothing like a spa day to lift a girl’s spirits! Peony and Ella got the pampered pet treatment over the weekend, and boy did they enjoy themselves!

Peony is an 11 month old Pit Mix who came to us as a stray and was sadly not reclaimed. She is a petite little girl weighing 33 pounds. ...She will need a little basic training in her new home, but she’s a smart cookie who is eager to please!

Ella is a 6 year old Husky also came to us as a stray and was not reclaimed. Ella is a talkative lady who understands that her beautiful coat requires a bit of upkeep. She sits so pretty when getting brushed! But maybe do it outside because she loves to throw in the some cute zoomies in between brushes!”

👉Interested in adopting? Go to www.winnebagoanimals.org to complete an adoption questionnaire.

🚨📢LAST CHANCE - Come Fall for a Feline during our adoption special at WCAS! $40 kitten adoptions and $10 cat adoptions until end of day Saturday 11-16! 📢🚨

🍁🍂🧡 WCAS is out of space, so we need you to Fall for a Feline at WCAS‼️🍁🍂🧡

📢All ...adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter,
microchip, vaccinations including a one year rabies shot, flea and tick preventative, and more. Adopters are encouraged to have their application pre-approved prior to the event.

📢Please visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire. Adopter's who fill our an application online will be one step ahead in adopting a forever friend!

Today's pawffice assistant, Skelly, is enjoying his day of getting pets, playing with toys, and hanging around behind the desk and keeping employees company!

He would like to invite you to come meet her and her friends at WCAS!
5 year old Skelly was brought in to WCAS about a ...month ago from a kind citizen when he was found wandering by himself. He is a well mannered guy who loves playing with toys, taking naps, and leaning into a good pet. At 40 pounds he is a great size and if Skelly could talk, he would say he is a lap dog!
Could you provide the home that this guy deserves?
👉Interested?
Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org - and take a peek at these animals' adoption profiles for more information, and be sure to complete an Adoption Questionnaire!

🚨📢Come Fall for a Feline during our adoption special at WCAS! $40 kitten adoptions and $10 cat adoptions today and tomorrow! 📢🚨

🍁🍂🧡 WCAS is running out of space. so we need you to Fall for a Feline at WCAS‼️🍁🍂🧡

Artemis and Spike are just a few ...of the friendly feline faces looking for a home this fall!

📢All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter,
microchip, vaccinations including a one year rabies shot, flea and tick preventative, and more. Adopters are encouraged to have their application pre-approved prior to the event.

📢Please visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire. Adopter's who fill our an application online will be one step ahead in adopting a forever friend!

🍁🍂🧡 Fall for a Feline at WCAS -$40 kitten and $10 cat adoptions now thru Saturday - ❗️WCAS is at capacity and running out of space❗️🧡🍂🍁

With over 70 cats coming into our care last week, our cat and kitten population is on the rise and we are at capacity! We have ...over 110 cats in the building and need the help of our community for our feline friends!

Join us today 11-14 thru Saturday 11-16 for our Fall for a Feline adoption special at Winnebago County Animal Services.
Kitten adoptions will be $40 and adult cat adoptions are $10 during this time!

All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinations including a one year rabies shot, flea and tick preventative, and more. Adopters are encouraged to have their application submitted ahead of time. You can do that on our website below!

With cooler weather in our future, now is the perfect time to FALL for a Feline at WCAS!
www.WinnebagoAnimals.org

🚨📢Today thru Saturday WCAS will be offering $10 cat and $40 kitten adoption fees‼️📢🚨

🍁🍂🧡 WCAS is running out of space. so we need you to Fall for a Feline at WCAS‼️🍁🍂🧡

Kittens- Butter, Ghee, and Margarine helped us get the word out about ...this awesome adoption special on Eyewitness Newsthis morning! They just a few of the 100 plus cats we have in the building!

📢All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter,
microchip, vaccinations including a one year rabies shot, flea and tick preventative, and more. Adopters are encouraged to have their application pre-approved prior to the event.

📢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 will be one step ahead in adopting.
🚨🚨Please share, tag friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers!

🍁🍂🧡 Fall for a Feline at WCAS -$40 kitten and $10 cat adoptions starting tomorrow thru Saturday🧡🍂🍁

With over 70 cats coming into our care last week, our cat and kitten population is on the rise and we are at capacity! We have over 110 cats in the building and need the ...help of our community for our feline friends!

It's the season of all of your fall favorites: pumpkin spice lattes, Ugg boots, sweaters (adoptable cat Jeb pictured below), fall flowers and a forever feline friend!

Join us tomorrow Thursday 11-14 thru Saturday 11-16 for our Fall for a Feline adoption special at Winnebago County Animal Services.
Kitten adoptions will be $40 and adult cat adoptions are $10 during this time!

All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinations including a one year rabies shot, flea and tick preventative, and more. Adopters are encouraged to have their application submitted ahead of time. You can do that on our website below!
With cooler weather in our future, now is the perfect time to FALL for a Feline at WCAS!

www.WinnebagoAnimals.org

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