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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
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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.
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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
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💔 Lonely Hearts - Adoption Special - $10 Adoption fees on WCAS's 30 long stay residents STARTING TOMORROW - 2/13 thru Sat 2/15 💔
Many long-stay dogs at WCAS have been patiently waiting for their forever homes, and now is a great time to bring one home.
They wag their tails, ...they lick your hands, you see the hope in their eyes… but when people walk past they retreat back to their kennels and all we want to do is go and sit with them and tell them that they are loved. We have 30 dogs who have been looking for a family to call their own for over a month. Some have been with us since September!
Take a look at💔Lonely Hearts💔 who will have $10 adoption fees during this time!
These dogs have all done their fair share of waiting for a new loving family to take them in and are all ready to call a new place home. Could that be your home?
All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinations including a one year rabies shot, flea and tick preventative, and more.
Open hours during the event are Thursday, 11am to 4:30pm, Friday 11am to 4:30pm, and Saturday 11am to 3:30pm.
Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!
This event is sponsored by CARE for PETS , whose one of many initiatives are to help WCAS’s population.
✨🙏It's Wishlist Wednesday! 🙏✨
(Our model is Barnum A0057792696, who is currently available for adoption at our facility here in Rockford, IL!)
This week, we're in need of the following items:
✨Wet Dog Food
✨Wet Cat Food
Donations can be ...dropped off at our facility OR ordered & shipped to our address
- 4517 N. Main St. Rockford, IL 61103
💔 Lonely Hearts - Adoption Special - $10 Adoption fees on WCAS's 30 long stay residents Thurs 2/13 thru Sat 2/15 💔
Many long-stay dogs at WCAS have been patiently waiting for their forever homes, and now is a great time to bring one home.
They wag their tails, they lick your... hands, you see the hope in their eyes… but when people walk past they retreat back to their kennels and all we want to do is go and sit with them and tell them that they are loved. We have 30 dogs who have been looking for a family to call their own for over a month. Some have been with us since September!
These dogs have all done their fair share of waiting for a new loving family to take them in and are all ready to call a new place home. Could that be your home?
All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinations including a one year rabies shot, flea and tick preventative, and more.
Open hours during the event are Thursday, 11am to 4:30pm, Friday 11am to 4:30pm, and Saturday 11am to 3:30pm.
Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!
This event is sponsored by CARE for PETS , whose one of many initiatives are to help WCAS’s population.
Looking for a loyal little lapdog?
Hi, I'm Worley. I have a big name because I'm kind of a little guy and weigh about 10 pounds. I was brought here because I was found as a stray and my previous owner never came for me. So now I'm looking for a new family. I can be shy at ...times and it takes me a while to warm up to people. Sometimes younger kids make me nervous with all their moving around. But, if you give me a little time, I will warm up to you and warm up to your family. At 7 years old I have a lot of life left to live. Please come and visit me today. I need your lap and you need me to be glued to it!
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 Clifford A0057504609, who is currently available for adoption at our facility here in Rockford, IL!)
This week, we're in need of the following items:
✨Enrichment Puzzles
✨Wet Dog Food
✨Wet Cat ...Food
✨Cat Toys
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 33 pets find adoptive families! This included 17 cats, 13 dogs, and 3 goldish! 🎉🎉
For more information on adoptable pets, please visit our website at
www.winnebagoanimals.org.
📰🐾Colby was our Pet of the Week on Eyewitness News this morning with Meteorologist Joey Marino.🐾 📰
Colby is one of the multiple dogs at WCAS wishing for a home today! Colby is ready to sniff out a great mystery with his new forever gang! This easy going, 5 year old pup, knows ..."sit," "shake," and "down." He loves to snuggle up for attention and explore.
Could Colby be the one for you?
Make sure to tune into our segment with Eyewitness News on Thursdays around 8:50am.
Check out Colby's live segment with the link below. ⬇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s0IIDPbuJk
✨🙏It's Wishlist Wednesday! 🙏✨
(Our model is King Julien A0057696842, who is currently available for adoption at our facility here in Rockford, IL!)
This week, we're in need of the following items:
✨Enrichment Puzzles
✨Wet Dog Food
✨Wet Cat ...Food
✨Cat Toys
Donations can be dropped off at our facility OR ordered & shipped to our address
- 4517 N. Main St. Rockford, IL 61103
🎥🐾 Nena was a good girl for her Pet of the Week segment on WIFR TV 23 this morning.🐾🎥
Nena was found as a stray in early October, but she has so much affection for people that we hoped she had someone looking for her. Unfortunately, no one came forward despite our best efforts ...to find her owner. 7 year old Nena constantly wants to snuggle and when she sees her people coming, she wags her little tail with all her might! She loves to be by your side and will lay her big adorable head on your leg or lean her whole body against you. Nena’s WCAS friends rave about her calming demeanor. This easy-going pooch is a joy to be around and can't wait to meet her family. You won't find a more loyal companion.
Check out our website www.winnebagoanimals.org for more information on how to meet Nena and adopt!
Make sure to tune into our segment with WIFR TV 23 on Mondays around 9am.
Check out Nena's live segment with the link below. ⬇
https://www.wifr.com/2025/01/27/pet-week/

Pet of the Week
www.wifr.commaking 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.