Chandigarh, Nov 22 — The Municipal Corporation has identified around 200 stray-dog feeding zones across Chandigarh, saying they will help regulate interactions between residents and community dogs while aligning with recent national directions on animal control.
Officials said the plan has been drawn up days after the corporation notified its new dog bylaws, which outline where feeding is permitted and where it is prohibited. The designated areas will come up in all sectors and, according to the MC, are purposely positioned away from residences for public safety. “This is aimed at structured feeding, not restricting compassion,” one official said, adding that a public notice soliciting comments will be issued soon.
The initiative comes after the Supreme Court on November 7 ordered all states and UTs to immediately remove stray dogs from educational campuses, hospitals, sports arenas, bus terminals and railway premises, and to shift them to designated shelters only after sterilisation and vaccination as prescribed in the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Under the city’s bylaws, each sector has been allocated two to six feeding points, set up deliberately away from high-use pedestrian spaces, children’s play zones and areas frequented by the elderly. Sector-wise records show that Sector 23 has six sites, the maximum, while the lightly populated Sectors 2 and 5 have two each. Five feeding areas each have been assigned to Sectors 7, 18, 19, 37 and 49, with most remaining sectors allotted three or four locations.
A senior official said that once these are formally cleared, the list will not be revisited. “Once approved, it shall be final and binding,” the official noted, referring to the joint vetting by authorised officers and stakeholders.
Strict provisions have been built into the rules for violations. Anyone who throws food in undesignated public locations, thereby attracting stray dogs and creating risk or nuisance, may face legal action. The bylaws also spell out that individuals and groups feeding community dogs must maintain hygiene and prevent litter. “Caregivers will have to ensure cleanliness,” an MC official said, adding that random feeding can aggravate tensions between residents.
The MC plans to publish the notification shortly, clarifying the zones and the expectations from the public.
Under the new Pet and Community Dog Bye-Laws, 2025, unauthorised feeding is treated as a littering offence, and persistent violators can face legal proceedings. Officials said the penalty for feeding stray dogs outside designated spots amounts to ₹10,000, including ₹500 as fine and ₹9,500 towards administrative costs.
