Stray dogs in Uttarakhand to be fed only at feeding points; wrongdoers to invite legal action

Stray dogs in Uttarakhand will have separate feeding points in urban areas. General people and animal lovers willing to feed stray dogs can do so only at designated feeding points; otherwise, action will be taken against them.

Municipal bodies across Uttarakhand will be required to establish stray dog feeding points in every ward. The Uttarakhand Urban Development Department has notified all the municipal corporations, councils, and nagar panchayats to create ward-wise feeding spots for stray dogs in line with the Supreme Court order in August 2025.

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“The department order with its manual was issued in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment pertaining to the stray dogs delivered on August 22. Instructions in this regard have been issued to the Director of Urban Development, all Municipal Commissioners, and heads of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats,” informed Santosh Badoni, additional secretary, state urban development department.

Badoni stated that the manual directs municipal bodies to set up a sufficient number of dedicated feeding spots according to the strength of street dogs and their territorial distribution in respective wards. It asked municipalities to ensure that dogs do not venture into other areas. The order cautioned urban local bodies that stray dog feeding points must not have high movements of children and elderly people around them.

The Urban Development Department manual warned municipal bodies not to allow stray dog feeding at places other than the designated spots. Apart from this, the manual made it mandatory for municipal bodies to put up display boards at feeding points with a warning that action will be taken against those who feed street dogs at points other than designated ones.

The Urban Development Department manual has asked municipalities to ensure that animal lovers not only provide food and water to the stray dogs at feeding spots but also are responsible for cleanliness and disposing of waste as well.

The manual has also allowed the adoption of street dogs by animal lovers after undergoing legal formalities with municipal officials. Once adopted, the dog cannot be abandoned by the owners, claimed the manual.

Rabies-infected and dogs with violent behavior dogs will be kept at the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and dog care centres, while normal street canines will be freed after sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination.