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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
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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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🌟🐾 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, May 1st's Paw-some ...Pick is Rook A0060797664!
Rook is a 6-year-old, 65-pound pup who came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed, so his past remains a bit of a mystery. What we do know, though, is that Rook has been making a great impression during his time with us!
While in our care, Rook participated in a dog-to-dog introduction with another shelter dog. Staff noted that he was very interested, friendly, and full of energy—showing us that he enjoys social interactions and could make a great companion.
Rook is looking for a family who will take the time to get to know him and give him the chance to show off his personality. The best way to see if he’s the right fit is to come meet him in person!🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
🐾 Eyewitness News Pet of the Week with Meteorologist Joey Marino: Meet Emily! 🐾
Emily is the last of her litter and she’s ready to steal the spotlight (and your heart)! At just 8 weeks old, this little lady has a BIG personality.
Emily is incredibly vocal and isn’t shy ...about letting you know when she wants attention — and trust us, she always wants attention! She’ll happily chat your ear off until she finds the perfect cozy spot, whether that’s curled up on your lap or perched on your shoulder. Once she’s settled in, her loud, happy purrs say it all. 💕
If you’re looking for a kitten who will keep you company, keep you entertained, and never let you feel alone, Lucy might just be your perfect match.
Come meet Emily and see if she’s the missing piece of your family! 🏡🐱
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - 🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
🎉🐾 Yesterday's Paw-some Pick Has Found a Home! 🐾🎉
We’re SO excited to share that Trixie has officially gone home!
❤️We couldn’t be happier to see her start her 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 Paws-some Pick is Angel A0057699165!!!
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!
👉Thursday, April 30th's ...Paw-some Pick is Angel A0057699165!
Angel is a 2-year-old, 38-pound pup who’s ready for a fresh start and a true forever home. She first came to us as a stray in January of 2025 and was never reclaimed. After spending a few months in our care, Angel was adopted—but about a year later, she was returned due to concerns about food-related behaviors in the home.
Since being back with us, our team has spent time working closely with Angel, including multiple assessments around food. We’re happy to share that staff have not observed any aggressive behavior during these evaluations.
During her initial stay, Angel also participated in a dog introduction and did well. She was eager and excited to meet another dog, showing positive body language throughout. While she may come on a bit strong and could benefit from some continued manners training, she did not display any concerning behaviors.
Angel is a fun, enthusiastic girl who’s looking for a family willing to give her guidance, structure, and lots of love. With the right home, she has so much potential to thrive.
Come meet Angel during our open hours and see if she’s the perfect fit for your family. She—and many other amazing pets—can’t wait to meet you!🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
😻 Check out the cats available for adoption at the E. State St. Rockford PetSmart! 😻
We currently have two AMAZING felines looking for loving homes and being cared for by the wonderful PetSmart staff — meet Coconut and Rum!
These sweethearts are ready to trade shelter life... for a cozy couch and a family to call their own. Could that be with you?
Interested in adopting from our E. State St. Rockford PetSmart location?
Here’s how:
☑️ Fill out an adoption application on our website: https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application/
☑️ Call the E. State St. location to check the adoption status of the pet, ask when they are available for visits, or schedule a meet-and-greet appointment.
☑️ Be patient — meet-and-greets are by appointment. If the cat you had your heart set on has already been adopted, don’t give up hope! We have many wonderful cats at our WCAS location still searching for homes, and more will be heading to PetSmart as space opens up.
For more information, visit: www.winnebagoanimals.org 🐾
‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼
❤Remember Bugsy???❤
Bugsy came to WCAS as a stray in early-April of this year and was never reclaimed by an owner. While he was on his stray period, he was pre-selected by his wonderful adopters. Once his emancipation date was reached & he ...hadn't been reclaimed, Bugsy was neutered and went on to his forever home!
Bugsy's adopter reached out to share this wonderful update and these great photos!
🐾Here’s a few pics of Bugsy since we brought him home! We love him sooo much! He’s even made a new friend (my brothers dog) 🐾
👉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
👀🚨Do you know any of these dogs?🚨👀
We would love to reunite these dogs with their families!
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 (Wednesday 4/29) 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.
✨🙏It's Wishlist Wednesday! 🙏✨
Our model is ❤Bear A0047453981❤ who is currently available for adoption here at WCAS!
Bear is a 6-year-old, 76-pound lovable guy who’s ready to start his next chapter. He came to us as a surrender due to a decline in his ...owner’s health—through no fault of his own.
Since arriving, Bear has shown us that age is just a number! He’s a vocal, high-energy pup who still has plenty of playful spirit. During a dog introduction with another male dog, Bear did great—once in the play yard, the two spent their time zooming around and roughhousing together. Staff also noted that Bear has excellent recall, especially when playtime starts to get a little too rowdy.
Bear is looking for a family who can match his energy, provide structure, and give him the love he deserves. He’s ready to bring fun, personality, and companionship into his forever home.
Come meet Bear during our open hours and see if he’s the perfect fit for your family. He can’t wait to meet you!
This week, we're in need of the following item(s):
✨Wet dog food
✨Fabuloso
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, April 29th's ...Paw-some Pick is Trixie A0060309287!
Trixie is an 8-month-old sweetheart weighing just 6 pounds, with plenty of love and personality packed into her petite frame. She first came to WCAS as a stray in February and, sadly, was never reclaimed by an owner. After spending a few weeks in our care, Trixie was adopted into what she hoped would be her forever home.
Unfortunately, just two months later, Trixie was returned when her adopter realized they didn’t have enough time to dedicate to her care.
Now, Trixie is once again looking for a family to call her own—this time for good. She’s ready to settle in with someone who can give her the time, attention, and love she deserves. With her young age and sweet nature, Trixie has so much potential to be a wonderful, lifelong companion.🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
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.