SERVING PEOPLE. SAVING PETS.

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adoptable
dogs

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adoptable
cats

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adoptable
animals

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

Ringo

Male | 3 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Pluto

Male | 1 yearTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Rufio

Male | 3 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Meg

Female | 3 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Onyx

Male | 4 yearsRetriever, Labrador
Meet Me

Keke

Female | 6 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Echo

Male | 4 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Honey

Female | 2 yearsHound
Meet Me

Boduke

Male | 4 yearsCoonhound, Bluetick
Meet Me

Denali

Male | 3 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Beauty

Female | 2 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Barry

Male | 2 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Lili

Female | 5 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

📰🐾Luke was our Pet of the Week on Eyewitness News this morning with Meteorologist Joey Marino .🐾 📰

Into lowriders? Then ...check out Luke the 1-year-old Basset Hound mix!

Luke came to WCAS as a surrender when his owner had a loss of housing. This love-able pup likes to split his time between cuddling and playful zoomies showing off his big paws. He loves everyone he meets including other doggy friends!

His goofy personality is sure to make you laugh!

Would you like to get to know him?
Haven't applied yet? No worries! You can visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire below. ⬇
www.winnebagoanimals.org

So you found a litter of kittens! Now what do you do? 🙀

As the weather warms, we are greeted with the familiar signs and sounds of ...Spring: flowers blooming, birds chirping and kittens meowing! Shelters everywhere are familiar with “kitten season,” the time of year that unaltered, stray cats look for places to nest and give birth to new litters.

For most people who stumble upon these cute and fuzzy newborns, their instinct is to swoop in and save them. However, human intervention isn’t always best for the kittens who rely on their nesting place and mother to survive.

👉If you’ve found kittens and are wondering what to do next, use our helpful guide to plan your course of action! https://winnebagoanimals.org/kitten-season/

👉Kitten season has started, which means tons of kittens will need fostering! We already have multiple nursing mothers in foster care. If you are interested in helping us save these important little lives, let us know!

👉Interested in fostering? We have lots of options for you that could fit any schedule. Fill out an application or get more info here! https://winnebagoanimals.org/foster/

👉Can't foster? We also needs supplies! Please check out our Amazon Wishlist. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/8KL43JJ0AR7C...

Daphne is here to brighten your day! 🌻

This 1 year old gal is still very much in tune with her puppy side, but also likes to ...cuddle up for a snooze. She came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed by an owner, so her exact background is unknown. As happy-go-lucky as a pup can be, Daphne would make a great exercise buddy, whether that be joining you on hikes, walks around the neighborhood, or just strengthening your throwing arm with a tennis ball!

👉Daphne is WCAS’s longest staying resident and has been looking for a home since January! That is over 70 days searching for a forever home!

👉Due to Daphne's long time search for a forever home, Daphne is part of the "Lonely Hearts Club" meaning half of her adoption fee has been covered by the WCAS Auxiliary! A generous sponsor has also covered $25 of her adoption fee making her just $50 to adopt!

Could you be Daphne's hero? If you're interested in adopting, visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire. www.winnebagoanimals.org

✨Meet Thor!✨

Thor came to us as a stray in late-January and was never reclaimed by an owner, so his exact background is unknown. ...Help us get to know Thor by meeting with him and seeing if they are the right fit for your family! He can’t wait to meet you, so come to the shelter during our open hours and meet Thor 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!

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UPDATE: Clucky Cheese has been adopted!

🐔 Clucky cheese is a fine looking rooster gentleman looking to add good company to your ...home - that is, if you are allowed to have roosters in your area. 🐔

He is a friendly guy, who will greet you and hang out in your company. Clucky Cheese gets very excited when there is food to be had; his favorite food is corn.

His loss of feathers indicates he may have not come from the best environment or was on his own for a while.

He is a handsome young rooster searching for a place of his own. He has "im-peck-able" manners and is anything but "fowl".

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

Have kids? 👶
Have a busy work schedule? 📝
Like your house to stay clean? 🏠
Meet Keke! She is good with kids of all ages,... housetrained, and crate trained!

Keke was initially surrendered to WCAS in February of 2022 because her family had some life changes that had added a new mix of different dogs in the home. It turns out that Keke likes people so much she prefers not to share them, but don’t you worry! Keke has plenty of personality to fill your heart and home. After a month in our care, Keke was adopted into what she thought would be her forever home; however, almost a year later, Keke has found herself back at WCAS due to her adopter citing they are moving and can not take Keke along to the new home.

This gentle girl loves to run around, play tug of war, and make you smile with her friendliness! Keke previously lived in a home with children aged 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and even a newborn! Her previous owner's let us know she was great with all of them and would be a great family dog.

Could she be the one for you? If you're interested in adopting, visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire. www.winnebagoanimals.org

making news