Feeding street dogs in Chandigarh now will not be possible at any time during the day as the civic body has brought in “uniform timings” for the same.

“The Municipal Corporation (MC), Chandigarh has fixed uniform timings for feeding community/stray dogs at all designated feeding spots across the city to maintain proper management and uniformity. The decision has been taken after reviewing different feeding timings being followed in various areas and representations received from stakeholders,” a statement issued by the MC on Tuesday said.

In summers, the morning timings to feed will be 7 am to 9 am, while in winters it will be from 8 am to 10 am. The evening timings in summers will be 7 pm to 9 pm, while in winters, it will be from 6 pm to 8 pm.

The MC has notified that feeding of community dogs should be done only at designated spots and within the prescribed timings. Sanitary inspectors and field staff have been directed to ensure strict compliance and regular monitoring in all sectors and areas of Chandigarh.

The corporation has also appealed to residents and animal feeders to cooperate and follow the guidelines for better public convenience and management.

The Chandigarh Pet and Community Dogs Bylaws 2025 mention designated places away from elderly and children play areas will only be allowed for feeding, specified limit to keep a pet dog and penalties up to Rs 13,400, and banning of ferocious breeds, among others.

As per the bylaws, a family may be allowed to keep dogs as per the limit prescribed by the administration. If dogs over the prescribed limit are found to be kept in a house by a family, then the unregistered dogs) will be impounded, and a penalty will be imposed on the owner.

As per the bylaws, the owner shall not take the dog(s) to the area of the Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, Shanti Kunj, Rock Garden, Leisure Valley, Bougainvillea Garden, Chandigarh Botanical Garden Sarangpur and other public places/gardens as notified by the MC Commissioner.

The owners of the registered dogs were asked to keep their pets under their control at all times so that they do not intimidate, annoy, hurt, or bite any person.

The bylaws state that the MC in coordination with the concerned stakeholders shall designate appropriate places and timings for the feeding of community dogs within their respective localities.

The reserved feeding areas should be away from play areas for children, entry and exit points and stairways, in the least-used areas by children and elderly, and away from high-traffic areas.

It was mentioned that whoever throws eatables in public place, other than those designated, which result in causing danger to human life or is likely to cause injury or annoyance to the public or to the people in general or to cause hindrance in smooth running of vehicular traffic, shall shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.