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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

Mamba

Female | 2 yearsTerrier, Pit Bull
Meet Me

Elsie

Female | 6 yearsTerrier, American Pit Bull
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

🐶 Where are our Cattle Dog lovers? 🐶

Hi there! My name is Blue and I'm an active, curious, and energetic Australian Cattle Dog. I enjoy attention and would love a job to do. I'm loyal, affectionate and always up for an adventure! I'm very intelligent and will always ...try to please you. I have a short stubby tail I love to wiggle when I get attention. I have a lot of energy and love to be active!

An ideal home for me would be someone with land for me to explore. I am ideal for country living and I am looking for someone to keep me busy!

If you're looking for an active, curious and loyal companion, then look no further! I'm your perfect match!

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

🎥🐾Helen had a great time during her Pet of the Week segment Eyewitness News with Meteorologist Joey .🐾🎥

This 3-4 month old kitten is a purr and biscuit making machine! She loves attention! She is available be met with and looking for her forever family now!

Kitten ...season is right around the corner!🙀
Please help us save lives and consider becoming a foster parent!

WCAS supplies everything needed to take care of these kittens. All we need is a caring, loving person and some of their time!
Your contribution will make a huge difference in the lives of our furry friends. Whether you have experience in foster programs or you’re willing to learn we would love to work with you to save lives!

Please fill out a foster application at the link below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://winnebagoanimals.org/foster/

👉Not in a position to foster but still want to help?
We are in need of miracle nipples, bottles, and kitten food!
Check out our amazon wish list or send/drop off donations to 4517 N Main St. Rockford, IL 61103 https://a.co/b9rBc5c

If you're interested in adopting, visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire. www.winnebagoanimals.org

🚨EMPTY SHELF ALERT🚨

We are in need of wet pate style (canned) cat and kitten food. Pictured below is on great example of what we need but we except all kinds!

👉In-kind donations can be dropped off in the designated drop-off site right by our back door or right in our ...lobby during open hours.
👉Items can also be shipped directly to the shelter at 4517 North
Main Street, Rockford, IL 61103
You can find everything we need on our Amazon Wish list!
https://a.co/fqnvDkO
🐾Thank you in advance for any and all donations!🐾

Do you know this dog? 👀

This male dog (55602187) was found as a stray on 18th Ave in Rockford when animal services officers responded to a call of a dog laying in the parking lot. He was nervous at first but he was able to be coaxed into the van with some yummy wet food and patience of ...our officers!

At 91 pounds, we would love to get this gentle giant back home!
Can you help us find his family?
www.winnebagoanimals.org

📣📣📣UPDATE: Rocko has been adopted!!!

Rocko wants what every dog wants: a safe and comfortable home where he can be loved.

Rocko was left behind in rough conditions during an eviction. Today marks a month of him being at the shelter. When Rocko first arrived, he was a ...little unsure of the strangers around him, but has since then sprouted out of his shell! Now, Rocko wags his tail at everyone he meets and loves to get pets!

At 4-years-old and 80 lbs, Rocko has more love stored up than we could ever imagine. He loves to spend time outside, rolling in the grass, and playing with his favorite humans.

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

🎉🎉 Last week, Winnebago County Animal Services helped 42 pets find adoptive families! This included 29 cats, and 13 dogs!🎉🎉

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

Canelo is ready to be your man!!

This two-year-old Shepherd is seeking a family to keep up with his playful, energetic personality and adore his affinity for fetch!

Think he's the one?

Haven't applied yet? No worries! You can visit our website and complete an... adoption questionnaire below. ⬇
www.winnebagoanimals.org

📰🐾Lolli was our Pet of the Week on Eyewitness News this morning with Meteorologist Joey Marino.🐾 📰

At a 2 years old, Lolli's curious and energetic personality makes her a lot of fun! Lolli's favorite things to do include meeting new people, meeting new dog friends, ...and sniffing out smells. She is a great size at just 32 pounds and can often be mistaken for a puppy. If you're looking for a totally happy-go-lucky girl who has a curious spark, Lolli may be the dog for you!

She can’t wait to meet you, so come to the shelter during our open hours and meet Lolli and other pets ready to find new homes.

Haven't applied yet? No worries! You can visit our website and complete an adoption questionnaire below. ⬇
www.winnebagoanimals.org

🐾 Did you know? 🐾

The volunteers of the WCAS Auxiliary are generally the ones handling the animals and servicing as adoption counselors to place animals in their forever homes!

It can be hard work, but the rewards of seeing an animal walk out the door is the reward. ...Potential hours mirror the shelter's hours. If you'd like to help, please complete the application at:https://winnebagoanimals.org/volunteer-application/ for this and other potential volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer opportunities at the shelter are generally 11-5 through the week and 11-4 on Saturdays. It takes many of us working together to find these pets their forever homes, and they are extremely grateful for the support!!!

Apply today at https://WinnebagoAnimals.org/volunteer/

making news