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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
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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
join our pack
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.com🐾 🐾🥳💕💙YOU ARE INVITED TO A VIRTUAL KITTEN SHOWER!💙💕🥳🐾🐾
Winnebago County Animal Services is excited to partner with Julie Weaver - State Farm Agent to host a Virtual Kitten Shower! 🍼🐱
As we prepare for an influx of kittens, we need your help to ensure... these little ones have the supplies they need to grow strong and healthy. Your donations will make a big difference in their lives!
🎁 What to Donate:
• Small kitchen scales
• Kitten nursing bottles
• Non-scented, non-clumping litter
• Wet/canned kitten food & dry kitten food
• Shallow dishes
• Heat disks (snuggle safe) & rice socks
• Kitten milk replacer (formula)
• Small kitten toys
Most Needed Items:
• Royal Canin Baby Cat kitten food (wet & dry)
• Miracle Nipples (Mini)
📍 Where to Donate:
• Drop off at:
• Winnebago County Animal Services: 4517 N Main St, Rockford, IL
• Julie Weaver State Farm: 3065 N Perryville Rd, Ste 145, Rockford, IL
📅 When: Now through March 1, 2025
Together, we can give these kittens the best start in life! 💜🐾
#KittenShower #SupportLocalShelters #JulieWeaverStateFarm #WinnebagoCountyAnimalServices #AdoptDontShop
‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼
❤Remember Gracie???❤
Gracie came to us as a stray in late-April of last year and was never reclaimed by an owner. Gracie was quickly adopted; however, after a couple of months with her adopters, she was returned due to them citing that she was ...too active. Thankfully, Gracie did not have to wait long to go home, after just a week back in our care, the perfect family visited WCAS and adopted Gracie!
Gracie's adopter shared these great photos and this wonderful update with us-
🐾Hi, my name is Melanie. My family and I adopted Gracie back in July of last year, and I just wanted to give a little update. When we adopted her, we were originally told that she was twice rendered. The second time was by an elderly couple who found her (age 1) to be too energetic. Well, since then, Gracie has made many friends who help her with all of that pent-up energy. She is truly amazing. She's smart, easy to teach, well-behaved, well mannered, and a little goofy. We constantly count ourselves lucky to have her, and everyone she meets is compliments what a great girl she is. Thank you for the wonderful addition to our family. It's only been 6 months, but it feels like she's always been a part of it.🐾
👉Interested in creating your own adoption story? We have lots of amazing dogs & cats available for adoption! We are open for adoptions tomorrow from 11am - 4:30pm!
👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!
💛💛Today's pawffice assistant, Clarence, is enjoying his day of lounging around behind the desk and keeping employees company today!💛💛
This older gentleman would very much like to curl up next to you on the couch and binge a tv series! Clarence came to WCAS as a stray in ...November. Unfortunately, he was never claimed by an owner. Content to lounge around, but also with an occasional burst of playfulness, 8 years of age doesn't hold this guy back at all! He loves to be outside, and playing with toys. He is a well-natured gentleman who only wishes to live out his golden years in a forever home. Are you interested in opening up your heart and home to Clarence?
💛 8 year old Clarence 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 - and take a peek at these animals' adoption profiles for more information, and be sure to complete an Adoption Questionnaire!
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.