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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

Twix

Male | 3 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Nova

Female | 1 yearBoxer
Meet Me

Kane

Male | 4 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Jefferson

Male | 3 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Bermuda

Female | 2 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Precious

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

‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼

❤Remember Domino (now Cyrus)???❤

Cyrus came to WCAS as a stray in July of 2024 and was never reclaimed by an owner. While he was on his stray period, he was pre-selected by his wonderful adopters. Once his emancipation date was reached & he ...hadn't been reclaimed, Cyrus was neutered and went on to his forever home!

Cyrus' adopter shared an update with us along with the adorable photos!
🐾Hi! I wanted to give an adoption update on *domino, now Cyrus, I adopted him back in August. He has really come out of his shell, loves training and cuddling with me on the couch, car rides and hiking. Still trying to understand why cats won’t play with him and he did graduate from a teenage dog training class. He always wants to either sleep or play but is very loving and gentle. He is definitely loving his life and I am so glad that I chose him🐾

👉Interested in creating your own adoption story? We have lots of amazing dogs & cats available for adoption!

👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!

👉If you've adopted from WCAS and would like to share an update & photos, you can message us OR send us an email at wcas@wcas.wincoil.gov!

‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼

❤Remember Zinnia (now Sprout)???❤

Sprout came to us as a stray in late-April of this year- she was running at large with two other dog, and one of our Animal Control Officers brought Sprout and the other two dogs to our facility. Sprout was never... reclaimed by an owner; however, she was quickly adopted by an amazing family!

Sprout's adopter shared an update with us along with the adorable photos!
🐾Hello! I wanted to share an adoption update on Zinnia (Animal ID: A0058385837) — now named Sprout! 🌱💛
We adopted her exactly 1 month ago and she has been such a wonderful addition to our family, and we are so grateful to have adopted her. Sprout joined a full house — a toddler, another dog, and a cat — and she has adapted beautifully. 🐾
She is the sweetest girl and such a joy to be around. My daughter has even learned how to throw a tennis ball, so now she and Sprout love playing fetch together. 🥎 It melts our hearts to watch them!
We couldn’t be happier. Thank you so much for all that you do and for helping us find our perfect match! 🐶🐾

👉Interested in creating your own adoption story? We have lots of amazing dogs & cats available for adoption!

👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!

👉If you've adopted from WCAS and would like to share an update & photos, you can message us OR send us an email at wcas@wcas.wincoil.gov!

🌟 Meet Sweetum – Our Eyewitness News Pet of the Week! 🌟

Sweetum is a 6–7-month-old puppy who came to us with six other dogs after her owner could no longer care for them due to declining health. This tiny girl weighs just 10 pounds and is as sweet as her name!

Though a ...little shy at first, Sweetum is full of puppy charm once she warms up. She loves being carried, snuggling in laps, and is patiently waiting for the right home to help her blossom.

🐾 Let’s find this gentle soul the loving family she deserves!

💥 Don't forget! 🎉 Thanks to the generosity of CARE for PETS, adoption fees for our remaining 20 longest-staying residents are just $10 now thru Saturday!

Haven't applied yet? No worries! Visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire today:
👉 www.winnebagoanimals.org

🌞🐾 SUNS OUT, TONGUES OUT: ADOPT A LONG-STAY PUP! 🐾🌞
$10 ADOPTION FEES FOR LONG-STAY RESIDENTS—NOW THROUGH SATURDAY!

Summer is here—and our longest residents are still waiting to soak up the sunshine in a forever home. 💛

These amazing dogs have been ...overlooked for far too long. It’s time they finally get the love, belly rubs, and backyard zoomies they deserve!

🎉 Thanks to the generosity of CARE for PETS, adoption fees for our remaining 20 longest-staying residents are just $10 now thru Saturday!

💙 So far, 10 of these long-stay pups have already found their forever homes! This included Nene, Wrangler, Kona, Crouton, Rocky, Casey, Ulrik, Charisma, Cujo, and Cashew.

Let’s keep the momentum going and find loving homes for the remaining 20—just in time for summer adventures. 🐾

🐶 $10 adoption fees for our 20 longest-staying dogs
📍 Winnebago County Animal Services
🔗 www.winnebagoanimals.org

They’ve waited long enough. Let’s make this the summer they go home. 💙

#SunsOutTonguesOut #AdoptDontShop #LongStayLove #CareForPets #AdoptMe #ForeverHomeSummer

‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼

❤Remember Duke???❤

Duke first came to WCAS as a stray in February of this year and was never reclaimed by an owner. He was quickly adopted, but was returned to our facility a month later due to a change in his adopter's housing situation. ...Duke eagerly awaited adoption (again), and a week and a half after his return, he was adopted into what is very clearly is forever home!

Duke's adopter shared an update with us along with the adorable photos!
🐾We adopted Duke back in March and he is a wonderful dog. He fits in with our family perfectly. Our sweet dog we had for 13 years passed in the fall of 2024 and we knew we wanted a new companion for our sweet Emma but we’re only just looking. When I saw Duke online I fell in love when I went to see him at WCAS I knew he was 100% the one for us. He is smart, loyal, kind, handsome, affectionate and he thinks he is a lap dog. We have been walking him almost daily. He has went on trips to Zanocco Ace Hardware, Lowe’s, Farm n Fleet, Home Depot, petsmart, Grandma Reid’s, numerous parks, and even a pack walk with current trainer Simply Lead Dog Training & Leashes in Rockton. Duke

is truly wonderful. I encourage everyone to consider adoption and once you have adopted look to get a little extra help from a good trainer if any bumps in the road they will train you how to help your dog be the very best version of themselves they can be and walk, walk, walk your doggie they will thank you for it. 🐾

👉Interested in creating your own adoption story? We have lots of amazing dogs & cats available for adoption!

👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!

👉If you've adopted from WCAS and would like to share an update & photos, you can message us OR send us an email at wcas@wcas.wincoil.gov!

✨🙏It's Wishlist Wednesday! 🙏✨

(Our model is Celeste A0058592663!)

This week, we're in need of the following items:
✨ Purina Kitten Chow
✨ Laundry Detergent

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

‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼

❤Remember Princess???❤

Princess first came to WCAS in August of 2022 as a stray and was quickly reclaimed by her owner. Fast-forward almost 2 years and Princess found herself back at WCAS, again as a stray. But this time, her owner did not show ...up to reclaim her. Thankfully, Princess did not have to wait long for a loving home- a couple of weeks after her arrival, Princess was adopted!!!

Princess' adopters shared these wonderful photos and this great update with us!
🐾1 year of Princess! A year ago today Sheila and I went to the WCAS shelter and took a chance on the dog that was shaking and curled up in the corner of her kennel. She has been the perfect addition to our family after unexpectedly losing Blue ❤️
From Princess- "OMG! I am living my very best life! I would have never expected that being dumped as a stray, living on the streets would bring me to my forever family who treats like the princess I am. I love my life. Thank you WCAS for helping me get here!"🐾

👉Interested in creating your own adoption story? We have lots of amazing dogs & cats available for adoption!

👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!

👉If you've adopted from WCAS and would like to share an update & photos, you can message us OR send us an email at wcas@wcas.wincoil.gov!

🌞🐾 SUNS OUT, TONGUES OUT: ADOPT A LONG-STAY PUP -$10 ADOPTION FEES FOR LONG STAY RESIDENTS STARTING TODAY! 🐾🌞
Summer is here—and our longest residents are still waiting to feel the sunshine from a forever home. 💛

These sweet dogs have been overlooked for far too long, ...and it’s time they finally get the love, belly rubs, and backyard zoomies they deserve!

🎉 Special limited time offer!
Thanks to the generosity of CARE for PETS, adoption fees for our 30 longest-staying residents are just $10 starting today and thru a limited time!

Let’s get these amazing dogs out of the shelter and into loving homes—just in time for summer adventures. 🐾
🐶 $10 adoption fees for our 30 longest-staying dogs
📍 Winnebago County Animal Services
www.winnebagoanimals.org
They’ve waited long enough. Let's make this the summer they go home. 💙
#SunsOutTonguesOut #AdoptDontShop #LongStayLove #CareForPets #AdoptMe #ForeverHomeSummer

🎥🐾 Kona was a star this morning on Eyewitness News with Meteorologist Joey Marino! 🐾🎥

Meet Kona 🌟
With her soulful brown eyes and gentle spirit, this sweet 5-year-old girl is ready to steal your heart. Kona came into our care in early April and was never reclaimed — ...now she’s patiently waiting for the forever family she deserves.

Kona loves quiet moments, leisurely walks, and offering a soft ear to listen. She gets along well with other dogs and is adored by everyone at Winnebago County Animal Services. 💙

💥 Now is the perfect time to adopt!
Thanks to the generosity of CARE for PETS, adoption fees for our 30 longest-staying dogs are just $10, starting tomorrow for a limited time!

Let’s get these amazing pups out of the shelter and into loving homes — just in time for summer adventures! ☀️🐶

📍 Winnebago County Animal Services
🔗 www.WinnebagoAnimals.org
🦴 Come meet Kona and her friends — your new best friend might be waiting!

Let’s find Kona her happy ending — share to help her get home! 🏡💙

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