Ever since the lockdown started, there were apprehensions about stray dogs and birds not getting enough to eat. While a lot of Mumbaikars wanted to go out and feed them but the police were not allowing the same. However, there is now a change in the policy as Mumbai Police has allowed the citizens to feed stray animals and birds during the early hours of the day. Mumbai Police, through a tweet, informed its citizens that they can feed animals and birds on the streets between 5:30 am and 7:30 am daily amid the lockdown.
"'Stray Out', but only from 5.30 AM to 7.30 AM. We appeal to animal lovers of Mumbai to feed their neighborhood stray animals and birds only between the allotted time slots for better management of crowds," reads the tweet by Mumbai Police.
'Stray Out', but only from 5.30 AM to 7.30 AM.
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 11, 2020
We appeal to animal lovers of Mumbai to feed their neighborhood stray animals and birds only between the allotted time slots for better management of crowds.#PawsitivelyDelightful #PawsitiveUpdate #Essentials4All pic.twitter.com/haOst3ICn2
Meanwhile, some animal lovers have requested the police to have a separate time during evening or night as well for feeding animals.
An activist told TOI that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and animal activist, Maneka Gandhi, had earlier spoken to some of the higher-ups in Mumbai Police to give some time period in the day for feeding dogs, cats, and birds on the streets. The activist also thanked Mumbai Police for giving a morning slot and like other activists, requested for an evening/night schedule.
On the other hand, a Navi Mumbai-based activist said that they were trying to convince the Navi Mumbai Police to allow them to feed the animals just as it is being done in Mumbai Police jurisdiction. The activist clarified that no permission has been given in Navi Mumbai and stated that the matter was urgent as many local dogs and cats have been starving amid the lockdown.
Responding to the same, the veterinary officer of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), Dr V Zunjare told TOI, "I have also discussed the animal feeding plan. However, the police officials have said that they need written directive from the state government so that it can be done in all districts uniformly during the lockdown."
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