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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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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.
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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.
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🎉🐾 THAT’S A WRAP ON CLEAR THE SHELTERS! 🐾🎉
What an incredible way to end an incredible event!
Today, 29 pets found their forever homes! ❤️
🐱 14 cats adopted
🐶 15 dogs adopted
🏡 29 second chances!
And when we add those to ...yesterday’s adoptions, that brings our two-day Clear the Shelters total to 42 pets who are headed home! 🎉🐾
We truly could not have done this without our amazing staff, volunteers, and adopters. ❤️
To our staff and volunteers: THANK YOU for the countless hours, hard work, patience, and love you poured into making this event such a success. From caring for the animals to helping adopters find their perfect match, you made an incredible difference.
To everyone who came through our doors and chose to adopt: THANK YOU for opening your hearts and homes to shelter pets. Every adoption means one more animal gets the fresh start they've been waiting for.
And to everyone who shared our posts, told a friend, submitted an application, or cheered these pets on from home—thank you! Your support helped make this possible.
❤️ 42 pets. 42 new beginnings. SO many happy tails.
We’re incredibly grateful for this community and so excited to see where all of these pets’ next chapters take them.
Happy tails, friends! 🐾🏡❤️
‼️🐾 FINAL DAY OF CLEAR THE SHELTERS! 🐾‼️
Today is your LAST chance to take advantage of FEE-WAIVED ADOPTIONS during our Clear the Shelters event! 🎉❤️
Yesterday was an incredible first day, with 13 pets finding their forever homes—but there are still LOTS of ...dogs and cats waiting for their turn to go home.
🆕 And we’ve added even more pets to today’s event! 🆕
Check out the newly available dogs and cat featured below, along with their photos and bios. One of them could be your new best friend! 🐶🐱❤️
🗓️ TODAY — Saturday, August 29 | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Winnebago County Animal Services
4517 N. Main St., Rockford
💥 Adoption fees are WAIVED for pets 6 months and older!
(Pre-selected pets and those still within their stray hold period are not eligible.)
👉 Visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view available pets and complete an adoption application.
🐾 Approved adopters will receive priority access to meet available pets. A standard adoption application is still required.
❤️ Fee-waived adoptions are sponsored by the Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary (WCASA) as part of NBCUniversal’s nationwide Clear The Shelters campaign.
13 pets went home yesterday. Let’s make today even bigger! 🏡🐾
Come meet your next best friend and help us CLEAR THE SHELTER! ❤️
🎉🐾 Yesterday's Paw-some Pick Has Found a Home! 🐾🎉
We’re SO excited to share that Ravioli has officially gone home!
❤️We couldn’t be happier to see them start their 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 Paw-some Pick is the kitten Black Hawk!
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!
👉Saturday, August 29th's ...Paw-some Pick is Black Hawk A0061214203!
Meet Black Hawk! 🐾🖤
Black Hawk is an adorable kitten who is ready to find a family of his very own!
Black Hawk came to WCAS as part of a litter and, one by one, his siblings have found their forever homes. Now, he's the last one waiting for his turn to have a family to call his own.
He's spent his time at the shelter growing, exploring, and waiting patiently for someone to choose him. As a young kitten, Black Hawk is ready for all the fun, curiosity, and adventures that come with starting life in a home of his own.
It's never easy being the last kitten left behind, but we're hoping Black Hawk's wait is almost over. He deserves a family who will love him, spoil him, and make him a cherished part of their lives.
Could you be the one to give Black Hawk his happily ever after? Come meet this sweet boy!🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
🎉🐾 DAY ONE RECAP: WE’RE OFF TO A GREAT START! 🐾🎉
What a day! 13 pets found their forever homes today during Day One of our Clear the Shelters adoption event! ❤️
🐶 8 dogs adopted
🐱 5 cats adopted
🏡 13 second chances!
We couldn’t be more... excited to see these 13 pets head home with their new families—and we’re not done yet!
‼️ ONE MORE DAY TO GO! ‼️
There are still LOTS of dogs and cats waiting for their chance to leave the shelter, and tomorrow is your last opportunity to take advantage of FEE-WAIVED ADOPTIONS for pets 6 months and older!
(Pre-selected pets and those still within their stray hold period are not eligible.)
🗓️ Saturday, August 29 | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Winnebago County Animal Services
4517 N. Main St., Rockford
👉 Visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view available pets and complete an adoption application.
🐾 Approved adopters will receive priority access to meet available pets. A standard adoption application is still required.
❤️ Fee-waived adoptions are sponsored by the Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary (WCASA) as part of NBCUniversal’s nationwide Clear The Shelters campaign.
We’ve already helped 13 pets find their people. Let’s see how many more we can send home tomorrow! 🏡🐾
‼️🐾 CLEAR THE SHELTERS STARTS TODAY! 🐾‼️
The wait is over! Our BIGGEST adoption event of the year is officially underway, and adoption fees are WAIVED for pets 6 months and older! 🎉❤️
(Pre-selected pets and those still within their stray hold period are not ...eligible.)
With approximately 40 cats and 40 dogs eligible for fee-waived adoption, there are A LOT of wonderful pets waiting for their chance to go home.
🆕 And we’ve added a handful of additional pets to the event! 🆕
Take a look below at some of the newest faces joining #ClearTheShelters — their photos and bios are included so you can start getting to know them before you visit!
🗓️ Event Dates & Hours:
📍 Today — Friday, August 28 | 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Saturday, August 29 | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
💥 Adoption fees are WAIVED for all pets 6 months and older!
(Pre-selected pets and those still within their stray hold period are not eligible.)
👉 Visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view available pets and submit an adoption application.
👉 Stop in to receive your approval card — approved adopters will receive priority access to meet our available pets!
🐾 A standard adoption application is still required during #ClearTheShelters.
📺 This event is part of NBCUniversal’s nationwide Clear The Shelters campaign, bringing shelters and communities together to help pets find loving homes.
❤️ Fee-waived adoptions are generously sponsored by the Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary (WCASA).
Let’s make this the weekend they’ve been waiting for! 🐾❤️
Come meet your new best friend and help us CLEAR THE SHELTER! 🎉🏠
🌟🐾 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, August 28th's ...Paw-some Pick is Ravioli A0061317122!
Meet Ravioli! 🍝🐾
Ravioli is an adorable 3-month-old kitten weighing 4 pounds who has been waiting patiently for a family to call his own!
Ravioli came to WCAS as a stray in early July and, sadly, no one came forward to reclaim him. He's spent the past several weeks growing, exploring, and getting to know the world around him while waiting for his chance to find a home.
At just 3 months old, Ravioli is at the perfect age to start his next adventure. He's looking for a family who is ready for all the fun, curiosity, and kitten antics that come with welcoming a young cat into their home. In return, he's sure to bring plenty of love, laughter, and adorable moments to his new family!
After patiently waiting since July, Ravioli is more than ready for his forever home. Could this sweet little noodle be the newest addition to your family? Come meet Ravioli!🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
🚨 STARTING TOMORROW!!!🚨
‼️🐾 LET’S CLEAR THE SHELTER – FEE-WAIVED ADOPTIONS - THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY! 🐾‼️
Come out for our BIGGEST adoption event of the year with FEES WAIVED for pets 6 months and older — including approximately 40 cats and 40 dogs! Take... a peak at a few of those pets listed below!
🗓️ Event Dates:
📍 Friday, August 28 | 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Saturday, August 29 | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
💥 Adoption Fees WAIVED for all pets 6 months and older!
(Pre-selection pets and those still in their stray hold period are not eligible.)
👉 Visit www.winnebagoanimals.org
to view available pets and fill out an adoption questionnaire.
👉 Stop in to receive your approval card — approved adopters will get priority access to meet our adoptable pets!
🐾 A standard adoption application is still required during #ClearTheShelters.
📺 This event is part of NBCUniversal’s nationwide Clear The Shelters campaign, working with shelters across the country to help pets find loving homes.
❤️ Fee-waived adoptions are sponsored by the Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary (WCASA).
Let’s give these pets the second chance they deserve — adopt and help us clear the shelter!
‼️🐾 LET’S CLEAR THE SHELTER – FEE-WAIVED ADOPTIONS - THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY! 🐾‼️
🚨 Winnebago County Animal Services has been battling a capacity crisis, and we need your help finding loving homes for our amazing pets! 🚨
Come out for our BIGGEST adoption ...event of the year with FEES WAIVED for pets 6 months and older — including approximately 40 cats and 40 dogs! Take a peak at a few of those pets listed below!
🗓️ Event Dates:
📍 Friday, August 28 | 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Saturday, August 29 | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
💥 Adoption Fees WAIVED for all pets 6 months and older!
(Pre-selection pets and those still in their stray hold period are not eligible.)
👉 Visit www.winnebagoanimals.org
to view available pets and fill out an adoption questionnaire.
👉 Stop in to receive your approval card — approved adopters will get priority access to meet our adoptable pets!
🐾 A standard adoption application is still required during #ClearTheShelters.
📺 This event is part of NBCUniversal’s nationwide Clear The Shelters campaign, working with shelters across the country to help pets find loving homes.
❤️ Fee-waived adoptions are sponsored by the Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary (WCASA).
Let’s give these pets the second chance they deserve — adopt and help us clear the shelter!
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.