view our
adoptable
dogs
view our
adoptable
cats
view other
adoptable
animals
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.
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
🚨🎄🎄‼️ $25 and $10 adoptions! Let's empty the shelter tomorrow‼️ 🎄🎄🚨
Day 1 & 2 of this event was a ...success in finding homes for 11 cats 🐱 and 13 dogs 🐶!
👉We still have lots of amazing dogs and cats available for adoption! Be sure to visit our website www.WinnebagoAnimals.org to view available pets and complete an adoption questionnaire. (Pre-select adoption are not included in this two-day event)
👉Adopters who fill out a questionnaire online will be the first to view our adoptable animals.
👉We will be open for adoptions Saturday from 11am to 3:30pm.
🎄🎄‼️ $25 and $10 adoptions! Empty the Shelter starts now‼️ 🎄🎄
🐾‼Our Eyewitness News Pet of the Week, Dharma, ...helped us spread the word with Meteorologist Joey Marino about our Empty the Shelter Holiday Hope Event‼️
Dharma enjoyed her time in the the studio showing off her sweet and playful personality! This girl weighs in at 30 pounds and is as sweet as can be! Dharma loves treats, cuddles, and playing with toys!
‼️Our shelter is at capacity meaning we are FULL with loving companion pets who desperately need homes of their own‼️
👉This event will be for a ‼️ LIMITED TIME ‼️ Make sure you get here ASAP to meet your new best friend!
Winnebago Animal Service will be participating in the BISSELL Pet Foundation's Empty the Shelters National Holiday Hope Event today, December 1st through Saturday, December 3rd. During this time, adoption fees will be $25 for dogs & kittens. Adult cats will have a reduced fee of $10!
Please visit www.winnebagoanimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire. Adopters who fill out a questionnaire online will be the first to view our adoptable animals.
During #EmptytheShelters, adopters are still required to complete a standard adoption application as if it were a normal day.
** Pets available for pre-select adoption do not qualify for this event **
🎄🎄‼️ $25 and $10 adoptions! Empty the Shelter starts tomorrow‼️ 🎄🎄
‼️OUR POPULATION IS AT CRITICAL CAPACITY- We ...need homes for our pets now more than ever‼️
Take a look through just a few of the pets we will have available!⬇️⬇️⬇️
Winnebago Animal Service will be participating in the BISSELL Pet Foundation's Empty the Shelters National Holiday Hope Event Thursday December 1st through Saturday, December 3rd. During this time, adoption fees will be $25 for dogs & kittens. Adult cats will have a reduced fee of $10!
Please visit www.winnebagoanimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire. Adopters who fill out a questionnaire online and stop in to get their approval card prior to the day of the event, will be the first to view our adoptable animals.
During #EmptytheShelters, adopters are still required to complete a standard adoption application as if it were a normal day.
** Pets available for pre-select adoption do not qualify for this event **
LOST DOG
Diamond is a 1-3 yr. old, female bully mix that went missing on the 2400 block of Cover in Rockford on 11/29/2022.
Please ...call Anthony at (815) 670-1248 with any information.
✨Meet Apollo!✨
Apollo came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed by an owner, so his exact background is unknown. During one of... our dog playgroups, staff shared that Apollo was initiating appropriate play with other dogs in group. Apollo is a goofy old man. He does like to mount other dogs, but he listens when humans and dogs tell him not to. He likes to be in the mix of things, but isn't one to be super engaging with play.
Help us get to know Apollo by meeting with him and seeing if they are the right fit for your family! He can’t wait to meet you, so come to the shelter during our open hours and meet Apollo and other pets ready to find new homes.
Old, but wise and young at heart! As a Golden Whiskers member, Apollo's adoption fee is partially sponsored by WCAS Auxiliary and just $75! They’re looking for a home to live out the rest of their golden years!
Want to have your adoption application on file before you come? You can fill out an adoption application today right through our website!
#seniordog #seniordogsofinstagram #seniordogs #seniordogsrock #seniordogsrule #seniordogsofig #seniordogsarethebest #seniordogsmatter
🎄🎄‼️ $25 and $10 adoptions! Our Holiday Hope #EmptyTheShelters will be this week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at WCAS! ‼️ ...🎄🎄
‼️OUR POPULATION IS AT CRITICAL CAPACITY- You could save a life during the Holiday Hope event‼️
Our dog kennels have reached maximum capacity and we need your help!!!
We currently have-
🐶 82 dogs in the building and we have had to double up kennels- giving dogs limited space.
🐱 84 cats in the building and we are quickly running out of open enclosures.
Winnebago Animal Service will be participating in the BISSELL Pet FoundationBISSELL Pet Foundation's Empty the Shelters National Holiday Hope Event Thursday December 1st through Saturday, December 3rd. During this time, adoption fees will be $25 for dogs & kittens. Adult cats will have a reduced fee of $10!
Please visit www.winnebagoanimals.org to view pets at Winnebago County Animal Services and complete an adoption questionnaire. Adopters who fill out a questionnaire online and stop in to get their approval card prior to the day of the event, will be the first to view our adoptable animals.
During #EmptytheShelters, adopters are still required to complete a standard adoption application as if it were a normal day.
** Pets available for pre-select adoption do not qualify for this event **
Available Dog (Nougat) and Cat (Connie) pictured below.
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.