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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 &
found
lost
a pet?
found
a stray?
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
for
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.
we’re social animals
join our pack
🐔❤️ Double the feathers, double the fun! ❤️🐔
Meet Hen-nah Montana and Kenny Roosters, an adorable bonded chicken duo looking for a place to call home!
These two arrived at WCAS as strays but appear to be in great shape and have quickly won us over with their friendly... personalities. Kenny takes his job as protector seriously and is always keeping a watchful eye on his girl, Hen-nah Montana. Meanwhile, Hen-nah has been settling right in, and has even rewarded us with multiple eggs during her stay!
This pair would love a safe outdoor enclosure where they can scratch, peck, explore, and enjoy life together while staying protected from predators. If you're looking to add some feathered friends to your flock, Kenny and Hen-nah Montana may be the perfect match.
Come meet this charming couple and see if they're the newest members of your family! 🥚🐓💛
👉 Interested in adopting? Visit our website and complete an Adoption Questionnaire to learn more.
www.winnebagoanimals.org
💙 Senior Cat Spotlight: Simon 💙
10-year-old Simon recently found himself at WCAS after his owner had to move and was no longer allowed to keep pets. After spending his entire life in one home, adjusting to shelter life has been incredibly difficult for him.
When Simon first ...arrived, he would retreat to the back of his cage and hide in his litterbox, hoping the world would simply pass him by. He hasn't been mean or aggressive—just heartbroken, confused, and overwhelmed by all the changes around him.
The good news? Simon is starting to show us glimpses of the sweet cat he truly is. He especially enjoys gentle ear rubs and is beginning to trust the people caring for him. What he really needs now is a quiet home, a safe space to decompress, and a patient family willing to let him settle in at his own pace.
Senior cats like Simon often get overlooked, but they have so much love left to give. He deserves to spend his golden years in a home, not a shelter.
Could you be the person who gives Simon the second chance he's waiting for? 🐾❤️
💛 10-year-old Simon is part of our Golden Whiskers squad! Pets 8 years and older at WCAS have ½ of their adoption fee sponsored by the WCAS Auxiliary!
👉 Interested?
Visit our website – www.WinnebagoAnimals.org – to view Simon's adoption profile and learn more about him. Be sure to complete an Adoption Questionnaire if you think Simon could be the perfect addition to your family!
Please share to help Simon find the loving home he deserves. 🐱💙
🌟🐾 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, June 9th's Paw-some ...Pick is Lizzie A0060967448!
Lizzie is a 2-year-old pup weighing 54 pounds who is ready to find a loving forever home. Lizzie came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed by an owner, so her exact background is unknown. What we do know is that this happy-go-lucky girl has quickly become a staff favorite! With her youthful face and playful spirit, Lizzie has the look of a "forever puppy"—the kind of dog that never quite seems to grow up.
During her time at WCAS, Lizzie completed a dog intro with another dog here at the shelter. Staff noted that the pair were instant friends, greeting each other with playful bows before taking off to run and romp around the play yard together.
In fact, Lizzie is one of our team's go-to temperament test dogs because of her friendly, easygoing personality. She seems to get along with just about everyone she meets and is always ready to make a new friend—whether they have two legs or four!
Help us get to know Lizzie by meeting with her and seeing if she could be the right fit for your family. If you're looking for a playful, social companion with a heart full of love and the adorable look of a forever puppy, Lizzie may be your perfect match.🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicatio
👀🚨Do you know any of these dogs?🚨👀
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 6/8) 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, June 8th's Paw-some ...Pick is Sebastian A0060283749!
Sebastian is a 1-year-old, 36-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, Sebastian has shown just how sweet and social he can be. During a dog introduction here at the shelter, staff noted that he greeted another dog with kisses and handled playtime wonderfully—allowing the other dog to roughhouse while remaining friendly and easygoing.
Sebastian is now looking for a family to call his own and can’t wait to start this next chapter. If you’re ready to open your heart and home, Sebastian would love to meet you!🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicatio
🌟🐾 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, June 6th's Paw-some... Pick is Akela A0060961195!
Akela is a 6-year-old pup weighing 57 pounds who is ready to find a loving forever home. Akela came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed by an owner, so his exact background is unknown. What we do know is that he’s hoping for a fresh start and a family to call his own.
During his time at the shelter, Akela successfully completed a dog intro with another dog. Staff noted that both dogs were relaxed and interested in one another, choosing to spend their time side by side exploring the play yard together. Akela’s calm and easygoing demeanor made for a very positive interaction.🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicatio
✨✨Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!✨✨
A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated kitten food after our urgent request went out last week! We received an overwhelming amount of kitten food, as well as monetary donations to go towards purchasing kitten food, and we are SO ...thankful!
We have some very happy kittens both here at our facility and in our foster homes!
❤THANK YOU!❤
👀🚨Do you know any of these dogs?🚨👀
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 (Friday 6/5) until 5pm.
👉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!
👉Friday, June 5th's Paw-some ...Pick is Rock A0060948541!
Rock is a 5-year-old pup weighing 48 pounds who is looking for a loving forever home. Rock came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed by an owner, so his exact background is unknown. What we do know is that this handsome boy is ready for a fresh start and a family to call his own.
While in our care, Rock participated in a dog intro with another dog here at WCAS. Staff noted that Rock was a bit nervous and shy during the interaction, but he remained polite and allowed the other dog to approach and even give him kisses without issue. With a little time and patience, Rock may continue to build confidence and show more of his personality.
Help us get to know Rock by meeting with him and seeing if he could be the right fit for your family! He can’t wait to meet you, so stop by the shelter during our open hours to meet Rock and the other pets waiting for their second chance at a forever home. 🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicatio
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.







