Dogs get less than two eggs a day, SPCA admits in High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday heard a damning account of the state of animals at Chandigarh's new SPCA facility in Sector 38 West — with the SPCA's own doctors conceding before Justice Alka Sarin that the nutritional requirements of the approximately 47 dogs housed at the shelter were not being met. As per the doctors' own submissions, the dogs were being given fewer than two eggs each per day, against a medically established requirement of four to five eggs per adult dog of average weight.

The Tribune has been exclusively highlighting the crisis since February 23, tracking every development — from a pregnant dog's harrowing confinement at the old Raipur Kala shelter, to the court-ordered shifting to the new SPCA facility, to documented neglect at the brand-new shelter, and now to the admissions before the court that even the most basic nutritional standards are not being maintained.

The court was also informed that SPCA employees had not been paid their salaries for months — a fact the Local Commissioner, Advocate Shruti Sharma, had flagged verbally when the matter was taken up on Tuesday. Unpaid staff, she told the court, were not reporting for duty and had been neglecting the animals as a consequence. The Chandigarh Administration submitted copies of two release orders — one dated May 8, 2025, sanctioning Rs 50 lakh as financial assistance to the SPCA, and a second dated November 13, 2025, releasing a further Rs 70 lakh. Counsel for the administration contended that once the funds were released, it was for the SPCA to have disbursed salaries from these amounts.

Counsel for the SPCA — respondent No. 2 — acknowledged that there had been administrative issues in the release of salaries, but informed the court that salaries for January 2026 had now been paid, and that February 2026 salaries would be released within a day or two.

NUTRITION SHOCKER IN COURT

The nutrition revelations were among the starkest disclosures of the day. On a query by the court about the dietary requirements of the dogs at the facility, veterinarians Dr Prateek Balana and Dr Gaurav Lakhanpal — both present in court — confirmed that an average dog weighing around 20 kg requires 150 grams of protein per day, effectively translating to four to five eggs daily. However, the doctors admitted that only 45 to 47 eggs were being mixed into the entire morning feed and 45 to 47 eggs into the entire evening feed — a total of roughly 90 to 94 eggs split among approximately 47 dogs, which works out to barely two eggs per dog per day. The court noted plainly that even by the doctors' own account, the nutritional requirement of the dogs was not being met.

The imbalance was further underscored by the SPCA's own audited balance sheet for the year ending March 31, 2024, which the petitioners placed before the court. Of the total annual expenditure of Rs 1,22,11,642, as much as Rs 1,09,31,307 — nearly 90 per cent — was shown as salary expenditure. In stark contrast, only Rs 3,53,925 was spent on feed for the animals across the entire year. Medical expenses stood at a mere Rs 57,565, while diesel and vehicle expenses accounted for Rs 1,80,339 and Rs 70,730, respectively.

SPCA ANNUAL EXPENDITURE — FY 2023-24 (Audited)

Total Annual Expenditure

Salaries (Staff)

Animal Feed

Medical Expenses

Diesel

VEHICLE RUNNING & MAINTENANCE

Rs 1,22,11,642

Rs 1,09,31,307 (89.5%)

Rs 3,53,925 (2.9%)

Rs 57,565 (0.5%)

Rs 1,80,339 (1.5%)

Rs 70,730 (0.6%)

LOCAL COMMISSIONER REPORT & CCTV ACCESS

The detailed report of Local Commissioner Advocate Shruti Sharma — appointed by the court on March 10 after The Tribune's reporting prompted judicial intervention — was formally taken on record on Wednesday. The report was accompanied by photographs appended by the Local Commissioner, including one showing two bowls containing what appeared to be yellow and white liquids, and another showing injured dogs at the facility. The Registry was directed to scan and tag the report at the appropriate place in the file.

Since petitioners expressed apprehension about the functioning of the SPCA and the manner in which animals were being kept, they sought access to CCTV footage. Counsel for the SPCA objected, arguing it could create complications later. The court, however, ordered that the Local Commissioner be given free access to the CCTV footage to ensure compliance with the Division Bench's earlier direction in CWP-PIL-152-2025, which had directed the UT Administration to ensure proper diet, treatment, clean water, and well-ventilated accommodation for animals. The court clarified that the CCTV footage accessed by the Local Commissioner shall not be shared with the petitioners, and shall not be made public or posted on social media.

Dr Prateek Balana assured the court that CCTVs would remain functional at all times and footage would be preserved for one month. He further stated that non-aggressive and healthy dogs would not be confined to cages and would be allowed to move freely during morning and evening hours. The SPCA also assured the court that all areas would be kept clean and proper hygiene would be maintained for healthy as well as unwell or injured animals.

VOLUNTEERS & COURT'S NEXT DATE

On the question of volunteer registration, counsel for petitioners pointed out that the form circulated by the SPCA was overly elaborate, requiring extensive declarations. Counsel for the SPCA agreed to simplify the process: volunteers would only need to provide their name, two photographs, and identity proof, along with their preferred area of work — feeding, cleaning or medical assistance — and preferred timings. Volunteers would also need to sign an undertaking to abide by Standard Operating Procedures. All parties agreed that a maximum of five volunteers would be permitted to visit the SPCA at any one time, and that photography and videography by volunteers would be allowed only between 2 pm and 3 pm. Any volunteer found indulging in unruly behaviour would be debarred from the premises.

The court directed the SPCA to file an affidavit detailing the steps it proposes to take to meet the nutritional requirements of the animals. Senior Advocate Anand Chhibbar and Advocate Anurag Chopra volunteered that the Local Commissioner would be paid Rs 10,000 per month for her ongoing visits to the SPCA. The matter has been listed for next hearing on April 7, 2026.

HOW THE CRISIS BEGAN

The Tribune exclusively reported on February 23 that a pregnant stray dog had been illegally confined at the Raipur Kala Animal Birth Control shelter for nearly 60 days — twenty times the permissible three-day limit. Under extreme stress and inadequate care, she delivered puppies inside the cage and was driven to consume one and partially devour another that was still alive. The Nodal Officer allegedly refused to visit the site despite repeated alerts.

Animal activist Saarthak Jain, who first flagged the cruelty, alleged illegal detention and false implication at the hands of the same official and filed a complaint before the DGP. The High Court, under Justice Alka Sarin, directed shifting of all animals to the new SPCA building in Sector 38 West within 10 days and ordered that registered volunteers be issued identity cards and allowed access.

On March 8, The Tribune reported continued cruelty at the new facility — locked gates, absent staff, cage keys taken home by an employee, non-functional CCTVs, and animals going without food and water. The High Court on March 10 took cognizance, appointed a Local Commissioner, and on Wednesday heard her findings — with damaging admissions from the SPCA's own doctors confirming what The Tribune had reported.

UT PAID SPCA

"Once the funds were released, it was for the SPCA to have disbursed the said amount."

— Counsel for Respondent No.1 (UT Chandigarh), on release of Rs 1.2 crore to SPCA in 2025

FEB SALARIES SOON

"Salaries have now been released for January 2026 and for February 2026, salaries would be positively released in a day or two."

— Counsel for Respondent No.2 (SPCA), before the Punjab and Haryana High Court

COURT DIRECTIONS AT A GLANCE

• Local Commissioner Advocate Shruti Sharma's detailed report taken on record
• Local Commissioner given free access to SPCA CCTV footage to monitor compliance
• CCTV footage not to be shared with petitioners or made public / posted on social media
• SPCA directed to file affidavit on steps to meet nutritional requirements of animals
• Maximum 5 volunteers permitted at SPCA at any given time
• Volunteer photography/videography allowed only between 2 pm and 3 pm
• Local Commissioner fee fixed at Rs 10,000 per month for ongoing visits
• Funds released to SPCA: Rs 50 lakh (May 8, 2025) Rs 70 lakh (Nov 13, 2025)
• Next date of hearing: April 7