If your residents’ welfare association or society is stopping you from feeding community dogs, these steps can help.
Know the rules
Under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, residents’ and apartment owners’ associations are responsible for arranging feeding spots for community animals in their area. Removing or relocating sterilised community dogs is not allowed.
Step by step
- Talk first. Ask the committee, in writing, to agree on a feeding spot away from play areas and entrances, and on feeding times.
- Write to the association. Send a letter or email citing the ABC Rules, 2023, and propose the spot. Keep copies.
- Involve the local body. If they refuse, write to your municipal corporation’s animal birth control or veterinary department and ask them to decide the feeding spot.
- Escalate. Write to your State Animal Welfare Board and the Animal Welfare Board of India.
- If you are threatened, assaulted or the dogs are harmed, file a police complaint (see “How to file a police complaint for animal cruelty”).
Keep a record
Save messages, notices and photos, with dates. They help if the matter goes further.
Get support
Local animal welfare groups often help with these disputes. Find one in the Directory.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.