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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

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

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

🚨Just a reminder🚨
In observance of the Fourth of July holiday, Winnebago County Animal Services will be closed today, Friday, July 3rd.

If you need assistance, Animal Control Officers will be on duty- please call 815-319-4100 if you have an animal-related complaint or have found ...a lost animal.

We WILL be open tomorrow, Saturday, July 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m for adoptions.

We wish you and your family a safe and happy Fourth of July!

‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼

❤Remember Raja???❤

In February of this year, Raja entered our care due to a change in his previous living situation. Once he became eligible for adoption, Raja was very much hoping for a safe, stable place where he could truly thrive.

...Raja patiently awaited adoption — even putting in his fair share of work as our front office’s Pawffice Assistant — and after four months at the shelter, he finally found his forever home a couple of weeks ago!

Raja's adopter sent this wonderful update and shared these great photos with us!

🐾 He's been out to meet his great great aunt Marcia and her pup Jelly Bean. Rajahs favorite spot is curled up on my bed watching TV...lol...too funny to watch him. He now comes in the house on his own after outside time in the yard. I still need to leash him to initiate outside time or to put him in the play yard space that has the large kennel that he and Monster occupy during the day when I'm working...not actually kenneled, but each have their own large bed etc.

Slowly but surely we are finding a few treats he does like...(Stella and David meal toppers and liver training treats...the first he takes easily). I think he's come great strides but he does not like it at all when he has to leave his fav spot on the bed...lol.

He definitely has to make sure of where I am always and right by my side. Never a bark but alerts on sounds from inside or out and definitely is Monster's backup.🐾

👉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

In observance of the Fourth of July holiday, Winnebago County Animal Services will be closed tomorrow, Friday, July 3rd.

We will be open on Saturday, July 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 4p.m.
If you've been thinking about adding a new furry family member, we'd love to help you find ...your perfect match! Our team will be here!

As you celebrate the holiday, please remember to keep your pets safe:

👉Ensure they are wearing a collar with current identification.
👉Keep pets indoors during fireworks, as loud noises can be frightening and may cause them to run away.
👉Provide a quiet, secure space where they can feel comfortable.

We wish you and your family a safe and happy Fourth of July!

📢May By the Numbers: Highlights from the Month!📢

We want to keep you in the loop! We're sharing a monthly snapshot showing the highlights of the work done at Winnebago County Animal Services. If you’re interested in more details beyond these highlights, our Monthly Shelter ...Reports are posted to our website’s “Our Work” page.

Here’s what May looked like:

🌟🐾 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, July 2nd's Paw-some... Pick is Coleman A0061077290!

Coleman is a handsome 10-month-old pup weighing 40 pounds who is ready to find a loving forever home. Coleman 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 young guy is full of potential and ready for a fresh start.

During his time at WCAS, Coleman completed a successful dog intro with another dog here at the shelter. Staff noted that the interaction went well, showing that Coleman enjoys making new canine friends.

At just 10 months old, Coleman is still very much a puppy at heart and has his whole life ahead of him. Whether you're looking for an adventure buddy, a walking companion, or a best friend to share your couch, Coleman is hoping to find a family to call his own!🐱🐶✨

🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicati

✨🎆How to Ease Pet Stress Due to Fireworks🎆✨

The loud booms, pops, and fizzes associated with fireworks can make pets feel uneasy. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to help calm your pet’s nerves.
👉Take a peek at our website resource for tips on how to ...minimize your pet's fear and keep them safe this 4th of July.

Image for shared link
How to Ease Pet Stress Due to Fireworks - Winnebago County Animal Services

Loud booms, pops, and fizzes associated with fireworks can make pets uneasy. You can take these simple steps to help calm your pet's nerves.

winnebagoanimals.org

👀🚨Do you know any of these dogs?🚨👀

‼️We’ve taken in 59 dogs in the last week‼️
We now have 100 dogs at our facility - Due to this recent surge, we’ve reached maximum capacity and are urgently hoping to reunite these dogs with their families.

👉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 7/1) 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 ❤Freeman A0060925697❤ who is currently available for adoption here at WCAS!

Freeman is a 2-year-old pup weighing 63 pounds who is ready for a fresh start and a loving forever home. Freeman came to us as a stray and was... never reclaimed by an owner, so his exact background is unknown. When he first arrived, Freeman was suffering from severe hair loss and was found with a sheet tied around his waist.

Since coming into our care, Freeman has been placed on a treatment plan and has been receiving the medical care and attention he needed to heal. We’re happy to share that Freeman has made great progress and is now available for adoption!

Freeman is hoping to leave his difficult past behind him and find a family who will give him the love, patience, and care he deserves. Help us get to know Freeman by meeting with him and seeing if he could be the right fit for your family.

Freeman can’t wait to meet you, so stop by the shelter during our open hours to meet him and the other pets waiting for their second chance at a forever home.

This week, we're in need of the following item(s):
✨Leashes
✨Wet Dog Food

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, July 1st's ...Paw-some Pick is Henri A0061059948!

his handsome 2-year-old, 60-pound pup is ready to find a forever family to call his own. Henri came to us as a stray and, unfortunately, was never reclaimed, so his past is a bit of a mystery. What we do know is that he's been showing us what a fun and social dog he can be during his time at the shelter.

Henri recently participated in a dog introduction with another shelter dog, and staff were happy to report that the interaction went very well. Henri was playful and eager to engage, showing off his fun-loving personality. Even better, he responded appropriately to corrections from both the other dog and staff, demonstrating that he can take cues and adjust his behavior during play.

At just 2 years old, Henri is full of life and would love a family that can provide him with plenty of playtime, enrichment, and companionship. Whether it's exploring the outdoors, playing in the yard, or simply spending time with his favorite people, Henri is ready to make the most of every day.

The best way to get to know Henri is to come meet him in person! Stop by during our open adoption hours to see if this playful, lovable guy is the perfect fit for your family. Henri can't wait to meet you and start his next adventure in a home of his own!🐱🐶✨

🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-applicati

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