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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.
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
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✨🙏It's Wishlist Wednesday! 🙏✨
Our model is ❤Simon A0061016246❤ who is currently available for adoption here at WCAS!
Simon is an 11-month-old cat weighing 6 pounds who is ready to find a loving forever home. Simon 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 young guy is ready for a fresh start and a family to call his own.
At just under a year old, Simon still has plenty of youthful curiosity and adventure ahead of him. He’s hoping to find a home where he can settle in, be loved, and let his personality shine.
Help us get to know Simon 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 Simon and the other pets waiting for their second chance at a forever home.
This week, we're in need of the following item(s):
✨Fabuloso
✨Lrg. Plastic Travel Carriers
Donations can be dropped off at our facility OR ordered & shipped to our address
- 4517 N. Main St. Rockford, IL 6110
🌟🐾 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!
👉Wednesday, June 3rd's ...Paw-some Pick is Baby A0060895448 !
Baby is a handsome 5-year-old cat weighing 8 pounds who is looking for a loving forever home. Baby came to us as an owner surrender due to a decline in his owner's health, making it impossible for them to continue caring for him.
Now, Baby is hoping for a fresh start and a family to call his own. While losing his home was undoubtedly a big change, he’s ready to find a new place where he can settle in, feel safe, and share his love with the people around him.
Baby is now looking for a family to get back to and love forever. He can’t wait to meet you, so stop by the shelter during our open hours to meet Baby 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
‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼
❤Remember Lola???❤
Lola arrived at the shelter alongside three other kittens after they were found as strays. Like so many young kittens that come through our doors each year, Lola's background was a mystery, but it didn't take long for... her sweet personality to shine through. Shortly after arriving, Lola captured the heart of an adopter and was quickly on her way to the loving home she deserved!
Lola's adopter shared these precious photos with us let us know that she's doing great in her new home!
👉Interested in creating your own adoption story? We have lots of amazing dogs & cats available for adoption!
👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org -to complete an adoption questionnaire!
👉If you've adopted from WCAS and would like to share an update & photos, you can message us OR send us an email at wcas@wcas.wincoil.go
🌟🐾 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 2nd's Paw-some ...Pick is Lady A0047468695!
Lady is a 6-year-old pup weighing 61 pounds who is looking for a loving forever home. Lady first came to WCAS in December of 2023 as a stray and was quickly reclaimed by her owner.
Fast-forward two and a half years, and Lady found herself back at WCAS once again as a stray. Sadly, this time, no one came to reclaim her. While we may not know everything about Lady's past, we do know that she deserves a bright future filled with love, stability, and a family she can count on.
Lady is now looking for a family to get back to and love forever. She’s ready to leave shelter life behind and start her next chapter with people who will cherish her as a member of the family.
Lady can’t wait to meet you, so stop by the shelter during our open hours to meet her 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
👀🚨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 6/1) 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 1st's Paw-some ...Pick is Precious A0060895432!
Precious is a sweet 6-year-old cat weighing just 6 pounds who is looking for a loving forever home. Precious came to us as an owner surrender due to a decline in her owner's health, making it impossible for them to continue caring for her.
Now, Precious is hoping for a fresh start with a family to call her own. She’s ready to trade shelter life for a cozy home, a warm lap, and plenty of love. After losing the only home she knew, Precious is looking for someone to show her that her next chapter can be just as wonderful.🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicatio
🎉🐾 Yesterday's Paw-some Pick Has Found a Home! 🐾🎉
We’re SO excited to share that Venom 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 Papa A0055065584!!!
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, May 30th's Paw-some... Pick is Papa A0055065584!
Papa is a 3-year-old pup weighing 59 pounds who is once again searching for a forever family to call his own. Papa first came to us in January of 2024 as a stray and was never reclaimed by an owner. After spending a few weeks in our care, he was adopted into a home of his own.
Sadly, a little over two years later, Papa found himself back at WCAS after being returned by his adopters, who shared that they did not have enough time to dedicate to his care.
Despite the changes he’s experienced, Papa continues to be a sweet and social boy. While back in our care, Papa participated in a dog intro with another dog here at the shelter, which staff noted went very well!
Papa is now looking for a family to get back to and love forever. He can’t wait to meet you, so stop by the shelter during our open hours to meet Papa 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
🎉🐱 Our Spring into Summer Cat Adoption Special is off to a great start! 🐱🎉
We’re so excited to share that Teddy and Venom have already found their forever homes! 💙
While we’re celebrating their happy endings, we still have so many amazing cats waiting for their ...chance. Our shelter is full of friendly felines — from playful and curious to sweet and snuggly — all hoping to meet their perfect match.
📸 Featured in this post is Feisty, just one of the many wonderful cats currently looking for a home! Could Feisty be the perfect addition to your family?
With over 100 cats brought into WCAS over the last week, we still urgently need your help creating space and finding loving homes.
🌸 Spring into Summer Cat Adoption Special 🌸
🐾 $10 Adult Cat Adoptions
This special applies to adult cats that are already altered and ready to go home the same day!
📍 Shelter Hours:
Friday: 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Please note:
• All adopters must still complete our standard adoption process
• Pets already available for pre-select adoption do not qualify for this event
Come meet Feisty and all of the other friendly felines waiting for their second chance. Help us continue creating happy endings for cats in need. 🩷
Please share to help more cats find homes!
www.winnebagoanimals.org
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.












