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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
lost &
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our services
In addition to pet adoption, WCAS offers services to help keep the pets and people of Winnebago County safe and healthy.
featured
animals
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adoption
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.
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‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼
❤Remember Moonyaka (now Luna)???❤
Luna came to us as a stray in late-January of this year and was never reclaimed. Luna waited very patiently for adoption, and just as she was about to hit the two-month mark, the perfect family came in to visit ...with her and took her home- on St. Patrick's Day!!!
Luna's adopter shared these great photos and this wonderful update with us-
🐾I just wanted to send an update on the sweet Moonyaka we adopted a few short weeks ago.
Her new name is Luna. She absolutely has fit into our lives perfectly! She loves her boy, Landon who is my son and he’s 9. She gets along so well with our other 2 dogs. She loves walks and all of her toys! Her favorite thing to do is look out the windows and snuggle. We love her so much and are so grateful we got to adopt her.🐾
👉Interested in creating your own adoption story? We have lots of amazing dogs & cats available for adoption! We are open for adoptions tomorrow from 11am until 4:30pm!
👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!
✨In about a month it’s Star Wars Day! ✨
We have two roosters from a galaxy far far away looking to celebrate with a family!
🐔Jabba the Cluck and Luke Skybocker are a pair of fine looking rooster gentleman’s looking to add good company to a home of their own- that is, if you... are allowed to have roosters in your area.
🐔
These two are friendly guys, who will greet you and hang out in your company.
Their feather coat and feet indicate they may have not come from the best environment or they have been on their own for a while. These guys need some TLC with a pet chicken experienced owner.
They are very friendly and have “im-peck-able” manners and are anything but “fowl”.
If you’re interested in adopting, visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire- www.winnebagoanimals.org
#rooster🐓 #rescuerooster #rescueroosters #roosteradoption
🎥🐾 Bessie was a good girl for her Pet of the Week segment on Eyewitness News with Meteorologist Joey Marino this morning.🐾🎥
Bessie was brought in as a stray by Postal Carrier when they found her wandering around by herself. 4 year old Bessie 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. With the excitement of her human companions she does sometimes struggle to contain it all by jumping up on her humans, but who can blame her!? Bessie could use a refresher on the proper canine manners, but with some time we know she will catch on quick! Bessie is around 33 pounds but could gain some healthy weight. If you are looking to meet with Bessie check her out at WCAS!
Are you ready to give Bessie a forever home?
If you're interested in adopting, visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire.
www.winnebagoanimals.org
✨In about a month it's Star Wars Day! ✨
We have two roosters from a galaxy far far away looking to celebrate with a family!
🐔Jabba the Cluck and Luke Skybocker are a pair of fine looking rooster gentleman's looking to add good company to a home of their own- that is, ...if you are allowed to have roosters in your area.
🐔
These two are friendly guys, who will greet you and hang out in your company.
Their feather coat and feet indicate they may have not come from the best environment or they have been on their own for a while. These guys need some TLC with a pet chicken experienced owner.
They are very friendly and have "im-peck-able" manners and are anything but "fowl".
If you're interested in adopting, visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire- www.winnebagoanimals.org .
‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼
❤Remember Big Sur (now Serj)???❤
Serj came to us as a stray in mid-February of this year and was never reclaimed by an owner. Thankfully, Serj did not have to wait long to go home, after a about a month & a half in our care, the perfect ...family visited WCAS and adopted Serj!
Serj 's adopter shared these great photos and this wonderful update with us-
🐾We adopted Big Sur last Monday and he now goes by Serj 🥰🥰 he is already so loved and loves to run and play in the yard and follow themselves around! thank you for our Fur baby 🥰🐾
👉Interested in creating your own adoption story? We have lots of amazing dogs & cats available for adoption! We are open for adoptions tomorrow from 11am - 4:30pm!
👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!
Today's pawffice assistant, Emma, is spending this rainy day playing with toys and hanging out with the front desk staff!
🌟 Meet Emma! 🐾
Emma is a playful and energetic pup who loves to have fun! Emma initially came into our care in May of 2024 and was never reclaimed by ...an owner. After nearly two months in our care, she was adopted; however, just 7 months after being adopted, she found herself back at WCAS as an adoption return due to her adopters citing that they were moving and could not take Emma with to their new home.
Emma is a lover of toys and we've found that she loves to keep busy playing with them with people or by herself! Emma has also met other dogs here and do well with a pup her matches her excitement and play style!
If you're ready for an energetic, smiling companion to join your family, Emma can't wait to meet you!
👉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!
✨🙏It's Wishlist Wednesday! 🙏✨
(Our model is Bessie! They're currently available for adoption here at WCAS!!!)
This week, we're in need of the following items:
✨Martingale Collars
✨Leashes
✨Cat Scratchers
✨Wet dog food
✨Wet ...kitten food
Donations can be dropped off at our facility OR ordered & shipped to our address
- 4517 N. Main St. Rockford, IL 61103
✨Meet Penny!✨
Penny came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed by an owner, so her exact background is unknown. Help us get to know Penny by meeting with her and seeing if they are the right fit for your family! She can’t wait to meet you, so come to the shelter during our open ...hours and meet Penny and other pets ready to find new homes.
Want to have your adoption application on file before you come? You can fill out an adoption application today right through our website!
✨Meet Zoey!✨
Zoey initially came to us as a stray in May of 2022 and was never reclaimed by an owner. When she arrived, she had a broken right paw and a large wound on her head. Her paw was surgically corrected and she spent the next couple of months in foster care while she healed ...& recovered and was eventually adopted by her foster. However, a couple of months after getting adopted, Zoey found herself back at our facility, again as a stray. Sadly, her adopter never showed up to reclaim her. After a couple of months back at WCAS, Zoey was adopted into what she thought would be her forever home, but after two and a half years, Zoey was returned to WCAS.
Upon her arrival back at WCAS, our team worked with Zoey and shared that Zoey is very friendly and the staff had no difficulty leashing her. They also noted that Zoey is treat motivated and allows pets. Zoey is now looking for a family to get back to and love forever. She can’t wait to meet you, so come to the shelter during our open hours and meet Zoey and other pets ready to find new homes.
Want to have your adoption application on file before you come? You can fill out an adoption application today right through our website!
#shelterdog #shelterdogsrock🐾🐶 #shelterdogsofinstagram #shelterdogsrule #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescueddogs
making news
WCAS Returning to Past License Tag Style Due to Global Shipping Disruptions
Winnebago County Animal Services (WCAS) will be returning to the past pet license tag style for 2022 pet registrations. This license tag style, which is a flat, stamped aluminum tag, was last used...
Kitten Season
Kitten season hits every spring and every spring staff prepares for the influx of kittens about to come through our doors. Learn more here!
Working Cat Program
The Working Cat Program finds homes for those cats are better suited to a non-traditional home setting.
PetSmart Adoption Program
WCAS has partnered with six PetSmart locations to help cats and kittens find their new homes.