Winnebago County Animal Services (WCAS) wants you to know that they're looking for foster homes for their animals to help them keep the shelter population down.

The reasons are two-fold.

For one, keeping the shelter numbers down will help in the event that WCAS has to close because of COVID-19.

And secondly, lots of people are finding themselves at home during this crisis, and studies show that having some company, even in the form of four legs and a tail, can help offset the loneliness that some people are experiencing during "social distancing."

Or, you could skip the fostering part, and go straight for an adoption.

My Stateline:

Pets are also still available for adoption.

Winnebago County Animal Services has suspended non-emergency shelter intake.

Officers will still respond to calls where public or the animal’s safety are in jeopardy, but other non-emergency calls are being halted.

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