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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

Sebastian

Male | 1 yearTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Sanara

Female | 5 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Rajah

Male | 3 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Mrs. Potts

Female | 3 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Charley

Male | 11 monthsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Benzo

Male | 2 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

BEAR

Male | 6 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Angel

Female | 2 yearsTerrier
Meet Me

Tucci

Male | 3 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Trixie

Female | 8 monthsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Tanner

Male | 2 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Lily

Female | 3 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Dill

Male | 6 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

🌟🐾 Paw-some Pick of the Day! 🐾🌟

We’re shining the spotlight on our pets with something special: each day, one amazing pet will be featured as our Paw-some Pick of the Day — and for that day only, their adoption fee is waived!

👉Tuesday, April 28th's ...Paw-some Pick is Snow A0060754223!

Snow is a 6-month-old pup weighing about 27 pounds who is full of energy, curiosity, and affection. She came to WCAS following two bite incidents in her previous home involving children during rambunctious play. In both cases, Snow became overly mouthy and broke skin. She completed her required bite quarantine with us and was not reclaimed by her owner.

Since then, our team has spent time getting to know Snow, and she’s shown us what a fun, friendly, and engaging young dog she truly is. Snow loves interacting with staff, thrives on attention, and brings a lot of playful energy wherever she goes. She also successfully completed a dog introduction with another young female dog and did great—showing she can be a good canine companion.

Like many puppies her age, Snow is still learning appropriate play behaviors and would benefit from continued basic training, especially around mouthy play and boundaries. Because of her history, a home without young children or with experienced dog owners who can help guide her training would be the best fit for her success.

Snow is now ready to find a committed family who will invest in her growth and give her the structure, patience, and love she needs to thrive. In return, she’ll offer companionship, fun, and a whole lot of personality.

If you’re looking for a lively, loving pup and are ready to help her become her best self, Snow would love to meet you!🐱🐶✨

🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application

📢March By the Numbers: A Look at Last Month's Impact!📢

We want to keep you in the loop! We're sharing a monthly snapshot showing the highlights of the work done at Winnebago County Animal Services. If you’re interested in more details beyond these highlights, our Monthly ...Shelter Reports are posted to our website’s “Our Work” page.

Here’s what March looked like:

🌟 Adopt 815: WIFR TV Pet of the Week 🌟
Check out her segment below! 👇👇👇
...https://www.wifr.com/2026/04/27/adopt-815-meet-merida-2/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRcuS1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFJekJ3TWdqSG1BaktSVXQ0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp61LHg6jyxVkKXiiIKvW-z6HPwIBAv7NJbLHwbmw0G_iGMC49JP6eAYrrHU_aem_Y43XCMUUV4C37D0TP_yz0Q

Meet Merida! This beautiful 2-year-old girl is ready to leave her past behind and start the happy life she deserves. Merida came to us with multiple other dogs during a court case involving more than twenty dogs living in a backyard in Rockford. After spending a couple of weeks on hold, she is now officially available for adoption!

Merida is an absolute go-to gal with a heart full of love. She greets everyone she meets with tail wags, sweet kisses, and her adorable smile. Her friendly personality lights up every room she enters! She even spent the day at a PetSmart adoption event, where she did swimmingly meeting new people and other dogs.

If you’re looking for a cheerful, affectionate best friend who is ready for a fresh start, Merida could be your perfect match. Come meet this sweet girl and see that smile for yourself! 🐾💕

🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicatio

🎉🎉 Last week, Winnebago County Animal Services helped 23 pets find adoptive families! This included 13 cats, 8 dogs, 1 rabbit and 1 Parakeet! 🎉🎉

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

👀🚨Do you know any of these dogs?🚨👀

We would love to reunite these dogs with their families!
Can you help us find their families? Each animal's Intake Date & Location Found is include in their photo's caption.

👉If you believe one of these dogs is ...yours, please call us at 815-319-4100 and one of our call takers can speak with you about next steps OR stop by our facility.

👉We're open today (Monday 4/27) until 7pm.

👉Some of these dogs are available for preselect adoption, which means that although the dog is still on their stray hold period and awaiting reclaim by their owner, an interested adopter is able to complete an adoption application and pay the fee to pre-select the animal for adoption. If the dog is not reclaimed, the adoption is finalized and the dog can go home as soon as they're spayed/neutered.

🌟🐾 Paw-some Pick of the Day! 🐾🌟

We’re shining the spotlight on our pets with something special: each day, one amazing pet will be featured as our Paw-some Pick of the Day — and for that day only, their adoption fee is waived!

👉Monday, April 27th's Paw-some... Pick is Tucci A0060746525!

At just 3 years old and a petite 6 pounds, Tucci is a charming little companion with a whole lot of love to give. Tucci came to us after their previous owner was no longer able to keep them due to having too many pets—a tough change, but one that’s opened the door for a fresh start.

Now, Tucci is ready to find a forever home where they can settle in, be adored, and return that love tenfold. Whether it’s lounging nearby, keeping you company, or simply being a calm and comforting presence, Tucci is ready to be your new best friend.

If you’re looking for a sweet, easygoing addition to your home, Tucci would love to meet you!🐱🐶✨

🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application

🌟🐾 Paw-some Pick of the Day! 🐾🌟

We’re shining the spotlight on our pets with something special: each day, one amazing pet will be featured as our Paw-some Pick of the Day — and for that day only, their adoption fee is waived!

👉Saturday, April 25th's ...Paw-some Pick is Benzo A0058851855!

Benzo is a 2-year-old, 58-pound handsome pup with a calm and friendly demeanor. He came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed, so his past is a bit of a mystery—but he’s been showing us what a sweet companion he can be during his time here.

While in our care, Benzo participated in a dog introduction with another dog at the shelter. Staff noted that he had a lower energy level during the interaction, but was very friendly and interested in the other dog, taking his time to engage in a relaxed and positive way.

Benzo is looking for a forever home where he can feel comfortable, loved, and continue to come out of his shell. If you’re searching for a more easygoing companion, Benzo could be a great fit for your family.🐱🐶✨

🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicatio

🎉🐾 Yesterday's Paw-some Pick Has Found a Home! 🐾🎉

We’re SO excited to share that Queen has officially gone home!
❤️We couldn’t be happier to see her start her next chapter with a loving family!!!

📣A huge thank you to everyone who’s been liking, ...commenting, and sharing our Paw-some Pick of the Day posts — your support truly helps our animals get seen and find homes faster.
Every share makes a difference!

👉Today's Paws-some Pick is Rajah A0060283821!!!

Keep following along and continue spreading the word — you never know which Paw-some Pick might be the next to find their forever home! 🏡

🌟🐾 Paw-some Pick of the Day! 🐾🌟

We’re shining the spotlight on our pets with something special: each day, one amazing pet will be featured as our Paw-some Pick of the Day — and for that day only, their adoption fee is waived!

👉Friday, April 24th's Paw-some... Pick is Rajah A0060283821!

Rajah is a 3-year-old, 31-pound pup who’s ready for a fresh start and a forever home. He recently came into our care due to a change in his previous living situation, and now he’s looking for a safe, stable place where he can truly thrive.

Since being with us, Rajah has been showing us his gentle and thoughtful personality. During a dog introduction here at the shelter, staff noted that he was a bit nervous at first, but he worked through it and approached the other dog for interaction. The two spent their time calmly walking around the play yard together and exploring their surroundings side by side.

Rajah is now looking for a family who will give him the time, patience, and encouragement he needs to continue building confidence and settling into home life.🐱🐶✨

🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application

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