Chandigarh's new stray dog feeding rule will cost you dearly. Here's why

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In a significant move to regulate the feeding of stray dogs, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MC) has proposed a stringent Rs 10,000 penalty for those who feed community animals at undesignated public spots, according to a report by HT.

The new Pet and Community Dogs Bylaws, 2025, aim to strike a balance between animal welfare and public safety by establishing official feeding zones. The civic body has already begun identifying these locations, listing approximately 60 potential sites across the city so far.

The responsibility for finalising these areas will reportedly fall to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Market Welfare Associations (MWAs). They are required to consult with local feeders, area councillors and the MC’s registration authority to earmark appropriate places and timings for feeding within their localities. The designated spots must be situated away from children’s play areas, building entrances and exits, stairways and high-traffic zones.

An MC official stated that while most RWAs and MWAs have yet to submit their lists, the process is underway. “The objective is to strike a balance between animal welfare and public safety. Once the bylaws are enforced, RWAs and MWAs will be strictly asked to share the list of feeding points and feeding at random spots will not be tolerated,” the official was cited by HT as saying.

Should these associations fail to provide their recommendations within a specified timeframe, the feeding points identified unilaterally by the MC in consultation with feeders will become final and binding.

The initiative follows a recent directive from the Supreme Court, which asked Union territories and states to identify feeding spots for community dogs in consultation with resident welfare bodies and local authorities. The final notification of the bylaws is pending after the UT administration requested the MC incorporate these new guidelines into the revised draft, which was initially approved by the MC General House in June.

Under the new provisions, caregivers and occasional feeders will be mandated to maintain cleanliness at the designated sites and avoid littering. Any violation, such as throwing food in public spaces in a manner that attracts dogs and creates a nuisance or risk to people, will be treated as an offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita or other applicable laws.

The penalty for such an infraction is set at Rs 10,000, comprising a Rs 500 fine and Rs 9,500 in administrative charges under the Solid Waste Management Bylaws, 2018. Legal action may also be initiated against habitual offenders.

To ensure compliance, the recovery process for penalties has been rigorously structured. If the fine is not deposited within ten days at the office of the MC’s Medical Officer of Health, the amount will be added to the violator’s water bill. For those without a water connection, it will be added to property tax dues. If neither applies, the penalty will be recovered as land revenue under the Punjab Revenue Act.