SERVING PEOPLE. SAVING PETS.

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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

Ollie

Male | 4 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Julius

Male | 5 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
Meet Me

Guzz

Male | 4 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Harvey

Male | 1 yearTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Bella

Female | 9 monthsBoxer
Meet Me

Lilith

Female | 2 yearsDomestic Shorthair
Meet Me

Cherry

Female | 2 yearsDomestic Shorthair
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

🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉

🤍Remember Benson???🤍
Benson initially came to us back in August of 2015 as a stray, but was never ...reclaimed. After a couple of weeks in our care he was adopted; however, after a few months in his new home, he was returned back to WCAS. Benson then spent over 4 months at WCAS eagerly awaiting adoption. Finally, on the last day of March in 2016, Benson was adopted and went to his forever home!

Benson's owner shared this wonderful update with us-
🐾I adopted Benson 3-31- 2016. He is the best dog a person could ask for and is so loved by everyone! Just wanted to share an update. Thank you🐾

🤍Just look at these great photos!🤍

👉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 view all of the pets currently available for adoption and to complete an adoption questionnaire!

🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉

🖤Remember Storm???🖤
Storm came to us in April of this year as a stray and was never reclaimed by an... owner. After almost a week in our care, her adopter visited WCAS and fell in love with this sweet girl!

Storm's owner shared this wonderful update with us-
🐾I adopted Storm back in April and we have become best friends! She loves cuddling and getting the zoomies. She is the sweetest cat and everybody loves hers!!!!🐾

🤍Just look at these precious photos!🤍

👉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 3:30pm!
👉Visit our website - www.WinnebagoAnimals.org - to view all of the pets currently available for adoption and to complete an adoption questionnaire!

💚💙WCAS is so grateful to be participating in BBISSELL Pet Foundations #EmptyTheShelters Fall Adoption Special! 💙💚

Stay ...turned for more details on event dates and pics of our adorable adoptables coming soon. Housing over 200 animals in-house with an additional 103 pets in foster homes, there is no better time to adopt!

🎥🐾Pebbles showed off her best smile during her Pet of the Week segment on Eyewitness News with Meteorologist Joey Marino yesterday ....🐾🎥

My name is Pebbles, I am thirteen-years-old, and I am awaiting a forever home. Please don't look me over just because I have a few more years on me than some of the other dogs here. My family adopted me from WCAS 8 years ago. I came back a couple of weeks ago as a stray but my family never came back for me. I'm hoping you can give me a happy ending to live out my golden years!
I am a staff and volunteer favorite! Everyone here loves how well I walk on a leash and my good manners. I've been great with other dogs and I don't seem to mind cats. I'm really hoping to find a family to get back to. Could you be that for me?

💛Old, but wise and young at heart! As a Golden Whiskers member, Pepper's adoption fee is partially sponsored by WCAS Auxiliary and just $75! Pebbles is looking for a home to live out the rest of his golden years! Check her out and the multiple other senior dogs we currently have available for adoption! 💛

Think she's the one for you?
Haven't applied yet? No worries! You can visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire below.
www.winnebagoanimals.org

🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉

❤️Remember Ladybug???❤️
Ladybug came to WCAS in mid-August of this year as a stray and was never ...reclaimed by an owner. This pretty girl hit the one-month mark here at our facility on the 21st, but just two days later, she was adopted by a wonderful, loving home!!!

Ladybug's owner shared this sweet update with us just a day after they took Ladybug home-
🐾Ladybug is loving her first day home- resting comfortably!🐾

❤️Just look at these adorable photos!❤️

👉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 view all of the pets currently available for adoption and to complete an adoption questionnaire!

🎉🎉 Last week, Winnebago County Animal Services helped 33 pets find adoptive families! This included 28 cats and 5 dogs!🎉🎉

...For more information on adoptable pets, please visit our website at
www.winnebagoanimals.org.

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