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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 - 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

Sunset

Female | 5 monthsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Princeton

Male | 1 yearDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Lou

Male | 5 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Lightening

Male | 10 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Meadow

Female | 6 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Mae

Female | 5 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Bongo

Male | 3 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
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

📣 ‼️$25 and $10 adoptions with the Bissell Empty the Shelter Event ends tomorrow, don't miss out‼️📣

We are at ‼️MAX CAPACITY‼️ for both dogs and cats in the building. We are out of cages and in dire need of space for incoming animals in need in our community. ...
We have resorted to using pop up crates but this is not a solution we can keep up with and need help to find homes for these deserving pets.

During this time adoption fees will be $25 for select dogs and kittens. Adult cats will have a reduced fee of $10!

👉This event will be ‼️ ending end of day Saturday ‼️ Make sure you get here ASAP to meet your new best friend!

Take a peek below at just a fraction of the deserving pets we are currently caring for!

Whether you've been considering adding a new member to your family or simply want a loving companion by your side, this is the perfect chance to make a difference in a furry friend's life. Let's give these deserving pets a second chance at happiness. Together, we can make a lasting impact!

👉Please visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire.
👉Adopters who fill out a questionnaire online and stop in to get their approval card prior to the day of the event, will be the first to view our adoptable animals.
👉We will be open our normal hours Monday-Friday 11am to 4:30pm and Saturday 11am to 3:30pm.
👉During #EmptytheShelters, adopters are still required to complete a standard adoption application as if it were a normal day.
** Pets available for pre-select adoption do not qualify for this event **

🎥🐾Our trio of adoptable basketball star kittens, Kaitlyn Clark A'ja Wilson, and Kate Martin enjoyed their Pet of the Week segment on Eyewitness News with Meteorologist Joey Marino and friends!.🐾🎥

‼️📢Lets Empty the Shelter‼️ 📢Don’t forget now thru end of day... Saturday Winnebago County Animal Services adoption fees will be just $25 for select dogs and kittens, and a $10 adoption fee for adult cats‼️

We have over 100 cats and and almost 90 dogs currently in the building! It's a great time to adopt a furry friend!

All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter, microchip, age appropriate vaccinations, flea and tick preventative, and more. This is a deal you can’t beat!

📢Please visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire. Adopters who fill out a questionnaire online and are approved will be the first to view our adoptable animals.
If you're interested in adopting, visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire. www.winnebagoanimals.org

Today's pawffice assistant, Patagonia, is enjoying her day hanging out in the front office! She is ready for the first day of the Empty the Shelter Event! 💙

Two year old Patagonia was found as a stray and brought in by a concerned citizen. Patagonia prefers to keep things lowkey ...and would love a home to match that! She is currently searching for her perfect family, but she does have some stipulations. You MUST give her lots of love and belly rubs! Patagonia can be somewhat shy with new people, but once you get a couple back scratches in, she's already fallen in love! This gentle girl would love a family that will continue to love and appreciation her, as well as showing her the ropes around your home! Does Patagonia sound like a good fit?

👉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!

‼️Don't forget! Thru Saturday, Winnebago County Animal Services adoption fees will be just $25 for select dogs and kittens. Adult cats will have a reduced fee of $10! ‼️
All adoptions include a wellness exam, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinations including a one year rabies shot, flea and tick preventative, and more. Visit winnebagoanimals.org to complete an adoption questionnaire and for more information.

✨✨Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!✨✨

A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated kitten food after our urgent request went out earlier this 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!

💙💚#EmptyTheShelters starts tomorrow at WCAS! 💚💙
$25 and $10 adoptions! 📣 ‼️ LET'S EMPTY THE SHELTER‼️📣

We are at ‼️MAX CAPACITY‼️ for both dogs and cats in the building. We are out of cages and in dire need of space for incoming animals in need ...in our community.
We have resorted to using pop up crates but this is not a solution we can keep up with and need help to find homes for these deserving pets.

👉Starting tomorrow, October 2nd Winnebago County Animal Services adoption fees will be just $25 for select dogs and kittens. Adult cats will have a reduced fee of $10!
👉This event will be ‼️ ending end of day Saturday ‼️ Make sure you get here ASAP to meet your new best friend!

Thank you SO MUCH, BISSELL Pet Foundation! We’re SO EXCITED to be a part of this National Adoption Event (and so are all the faces in this post and on our website looking for their Forever Homes!)

** Dogs and Cats available for pre-select adoption do not qualify for this event **
Please visit www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire. Adopters who fill out a questionnaire online and stop in to get their approval card prior to the day of the event, will be the first to view our adoptable animals.

🚨‼URGENT DONATION NEED‼🚨

We've had over ‼80 cats‼ come in since Friday morning- lots of them being kittens, and we are in DESPERATE need of canned kitten food!

If you're able to help us out and donate, you can send or drop off donations to 4517 N Main St. ...Rockford, IL 61103.

For more information, please visit our website: www.WinnebagoAnimals.org

Thank you in advance!!!

📰🐾Cheesy was our Pet of the Week on Eyewitness News this morning with Meteorologist Joey Marino and Tom Lewis.🐾 📰

🧀It ain't easy being cheesy! 🧀 Cheesy is a gentle girl, who has a lot of love to give! Her ideal home would have lots of treats, shower her with love, ...and enjoy taking leisurely walks at sunset. Think you're fit for this 1 year old pup? Come meet her with an approved application.

Haven't applied yet? No worries! You can visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire below. ⬇
www.winnebagoanimals.org

‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼

❤Remember Elenord ???❤
Elenord came to WCAS as a stray in late-August and was never reclaimed by an owner. After a few weeks in our care, this sweet, senior cat was still awaiting adoption. Elenord then made his way to the PetSmart in Greenfield, WI ...(one of the multiple PetSmart locations we partner with) in hopes of finding his forever home! Elenord was in luck, less than a week after his arrival, he was adopted!

Elenord's adopter shared these adorable photos and this wonderful update with us-
🐾I adopted Elenord from the Greenfield PetSmart. Just wanted to share that he has been very cuddly since coming to my house and is already comfortable in my place🐾

👉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 until 4:30pm!

👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!

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