PMC Identifies 88 Designated Spots for Feeding Stray Dogs Across Pune

Pune Municipal Corporation names 88 official feeding spots for stray dogs to ensure hygiene and comply with Supreme Court guidelines.

Pune | 26 February 2026: In a significant move aimed at streamlining urban animal welfare management, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has identified 88 designated locations across the city where citizens can feed stray dogs. The decision is part of a structured effort to balance compassion toward community animals with public hygiene, road safety, and residential harmony.

The initiative comes in response to recent directives issued by the Supreme Court of India, which called upon municipal bodies across the country to earmark specific feeding zones for community animals. The aim is to prevent indiscriminate feeding in high-traffic areas, reduce conflict between residents and feeders, and ensure better monitoring of stray dog populations.

According to civic officials, the administration invited suggestions from animal welfare volunteers, residents, and housing societies to identify suitable spots. Over the past several months, authorities received numerous proposals through email submissions, social media messages, and ward-level offices. Each suggested site was inspected on the ground by veterinary and civic teams to assess feasibility, safety, pedestrian movement, and potential inconvenience to local residents before final approval was granted.

Officials from the civic veterinary department stated that the approved feeding locations are spread across multiple wards in Pune, covering residential neighbourhoods as well as open public areas. Volunteers feeding stray dogs at these designated points have been instructed to maintain strict cleanliness standards. Feeders must ensure leftover food is not scattered, drinking water is provided responsibly, and public pathways are not obstructed.

The move has generated mixed reactions across Pune. Many residents have welcomed the step, saying it will bring order and accountability to stray dog feeding practices. Supporters argue that designated zones will reduce instances of garbage accumulation and dogs congregating at random spots, especially near busy roads and marketplaces. They also believe that formal feeding points can assist authorities in tracking dog populations more effectively, supporting sterilisation and vaccination drives under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.

However, some animal welfare volunteers have expressed reservations. They argue that community dogs are territorial and often remain in specific localities where they have been fed for years. Shifting feeding to designated areas may disrupt established patterns and could potentially lead to confusion or displacement of animals. Activists have also stressed that feeding should be done responsibly and during non-peak hours to minimise public inconvenience.

Urban animal management has been a sensitive issue in Pune for years. Complaints regarding stray dogs scattering garbage, barking at night, or posing safety concerns have periodically surfaced in various neighbourhoods. At the same time, animal rights groups emphasize the importance of humane treatment, vaccination, and sterilisation as long-term solutions rather than relocation or abandonment.

Civic authorities clarified that the identification of 88 feeding spots is not intended to penalise feeders but to create a structured and cooperative framework. The administration has urged housing societies to allocate dedicated spaces within their premises for feeding community animals wherever feasible. Officials believe that a collaborative approach between residents, feeders, and the municipal body will help minimise friction and ensure smoother implementation.

Experts in urban governance note that clearly defined feeding areas can help reduce road accidents involving stray dogs, prevent food waste from accumulating in random locations, and allow better health monitoring of animals. When combined with systematic sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination programmes, such measures can gradually stabilise stray dog populations and improve overall public health outcomes.

As Pune continues to expand rapidly, managing the coexistence between humans and community animals remains a complex challenge. The PMC’s decision to formally designate feeding zones reflects a broader effort to create sustainable and humane urban systems that accommodate both civic discipline and compassion.

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