Ahmedabad: The city will soon have designated feeding zones for stray dogs as the civic body moves to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules in line with a recent Supreme Court directive on the stray dog menace.

Feeding strays on roads, in gardens, or near building entrances will no longer be allowed. Instead, resident welfare associations (RWAs) will be responsible for creating and maintaining safe, hygienic feeding spots within housing societies. Officials said the step aims to balance animal welfare with public safety, particularly in areas used by children and the elderly. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will soon issue detailed guidelines for societies on setting up and managing feeding zones.

It is noteworthy that AMC’s health bylaws of 2013 had already banned feeding animals and birds in public areas, but enforcement remained weak, leading to an increase in nuisance bird-feeding spots. The civic body is now reviewing whether penalties should be raised for unauthorised feeding of both animals and birds. DeshGujarat