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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
a stray?
our services
In addition to pet adoption, WCAS offers services to help keep the pets and people of Winnebago County safe and healthy.
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
🌟🐾 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, April 17th's Paw-some... Pick is Jaq A0060283442!
Jaq is a 1-year-old, 42-pound pup who’s ready for a fresh start and a forever home. He recently came into our care due to a change in his previous living situation, and now he’s looking for a safe, stable place where he can truly thrive.
Jaq is a shy guy who will benefit from a caring, patient home that allows him the time and space to come out of his shell. While in our care, he participated in a dog introduction with another dog at the shelter. Staff noted that he was initially more interested in exploring the play yard on his own, but as he grew more comfortable, he began to open up—approaching the other dog and initiating play. It was wonderful to see his personality start to shine!
Based on what we’ve seen, another confident dog in the home may be very beneficial in helping Jaq build his confidence and continue to grow.
Jaq is now looking for a family who will give him the support, understanding, and love he needs to blossom into the amazing companion we know he can be.
Come meet Jaq during our open hours and see if he’s the perfect fit for your home. He—and many other wonderful pets—can’t wait to meet you!🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼
❤Remember Mabel???❤
Mabel came to WCAS in early July 2025 as a stray and was never reclaimed. She patiently waited just over a month before finding her forever home!
Mabel's adopters reached out with an update and this lovely ...photo!
🐾We adopted Mabel Aug 4 2025. She was very spooky for several months and afraid of just about
Everything. She has since settled in as a very affectionate companion that enjoys long walks and the company of other dogs.🐾
👉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!
👉Thursday, April 16th's ...Paw-some Pick is Lily A0056482173 !
Lily is a 3-year-old, 9-pound kitty with a story that’s brought her back to us—but she’s ready for a fresh start. She first came to WCAS in June of 2025 as an owner surrender and spent a couple of months in our care before being adopted.
About seven months later, Lily was returned to us after an incident that occurred while her owner was away and she was being cared for by a family member. Following the incident, Lily completed her required bite quarantine here at WCAS.
Since then, our team has spent time working with Lily and getting to know her again. We’ve seen her friendly side while back in our care, and she has been evaluated and cleared as an adoption candidate.
Lily is now looking for a patient and understanding home where she can feel comfortable and secure. With the right environment, she has the potential to be a loving and loyal companion.🐱🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼
❤Remember Jeimy???❤
Jeimy first came to us as a stray back in October and was never reclaimed. After spending a few weeks in our care, she was adopted—but unfortunately returned a few months later when her adopter felt she was a bit too strong ...for them to handle. Luckily, Jeimy was quickly adopted during last week's Construction Sale Dog Adoption Event!
Jeimy's adopter reached out and shared these wonderful photos with us! Jeimy has certainly made herself right at 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
👀🚨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 4/15) 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
✨Hot Dogs
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 15th's ...Paw-some Pick is Sebastian A0060283749!
Sebastian is a 1-year-old, 36-pound pup who’s ready for a fresh start and a forever home. He recently came into our care due to a change in his previous living situation, and now he’s looking for a safe, stable place where he can truly thrive.
Since being with us, Sebastian has shown just how sweet and social he can be. During a dog introduction here at the shelter, staff noted that he greeted another dog with kisses and handled playtime wonderfully—allowing the other dog to roughhouse while remaining friendly and easygoing.
Sebastian is now looking for a family to call his own and can’t wait to start this next chapter. If you’re ready to open your heart and home, Sebastian would love to meet you!😺🐶✨
🖱Click here to submit an Adoption Questionnaire - https://winnebagoanimals.org/adoption-application
‼🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!🎉‼
❤Remember Torino???❤
Torino came to WCAS as a stray and was never reclaimed by an owner. Luckily, Torino was quickly adopted during last week's Construction Sale Dog Adoption Event!
Torino's adopters reached out with an update ...and these fantastic photos!
🐾Torino has settled in quickly with our family. He is very gentle with the kids, loving, cuddly, and very well mannered. This home will surely make sure he thrives and is the healthiest version of himself for the rest of his life. We adore him as much as he adores us.🐾
👉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, April 14th's ...Paw-some Pick is Mia A0060686445!
Mia is a 2-year-old, 7-pound petite kitty with a sweet spirit and so much love to give. She came to us as an owner surrender due to a decline in her owner’s health—through no fault of her own.
Mia is now ready to start her next chapter with a family who can give her the stability, comfort, and affection she deserves. With her small size and gentle nature, she’s sure to make a wonderful companion in the right home.
If you’re looking for a loving feline friend, Mia could be the perfect match for you.
Come meet Mia during our open hours and see if she’s the one for you. She—and many other amazing pets—can’t wait to find their forever homes!🐱🐶✨
🖱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.

