Feeding community dogs: what the law says

Feeding community dogs is not illegal in India. The rules focus on where and how feeding happens.

What the rules say

• Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023: residents’ welfare associations, apartment owners’ associations and local bodies are responsible for arranging feeding spots for community animals in their area. Feeding spots should be away from children’s play areas, entrances and exits, and places where people walk most.
• Supreme Court, August 2025: the Court directed local bodies to set up designated feeding areas, and said community dogs should be fed at these places rather than on streets. Read the judgment in the Library for exact wording and any later orders.

Feeding responsibly

1. Feed at a fixed place and time, away from busy entrances and play areas.
2. Clean up after feeding.
3. Help get the dogs in your area sterilised and vaccinated (see “ABC Rules 2023, explained”).
4. Keep a record of the dogs you feed, including their sterilisation and vaccination.

If you are stopped or threatened

See “RWA or society stopping you from feeding dogs”. Threats or violence against you are a police matter.

This guide is general information, not legal advice.