Animal lovers of the steel city are venturing out to feed pigeons and stray dogs who are forced to go hungry during the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The canines, who used to survive on leftovers from roadside eateries and pushcart vendors, are the worst-hit.

The pigeons keep waiting at the landmark Jubilee Park, a favourite address for morning walkers, some of whom used to feed the birds regularly.

Businessman and Mango resident Manoj Kumar has not let the shutdown come in the way of his daily routine of feeding dogs and pigeons.

“Police are being very strict against those flouting the lockdown rules, but I have found a way out by leaving and returning home early. The pigeons fly in as soon as they spot me outside the Jubilee Park,” he said.

Kumar also feeds the cows on a daily basis.

“I stock rotis and jaggery in my two-wheeler and feed the cows whenever I come by them, mostly in Sakchi, while returning home,” he said.

Residents have now started to feed dogs and pigeons outside Jubilee Park, in front of Sir Dorabji Tata Park and behind the Parsi Colony.

Jayant Kumar Bhuyan, a chess arbiter and mentor, said people could survive the lockdown by stocking up on food, but the animals could not.

“The pigeons know me. Some feed from my palm. I offer them flour and chana,” the bespectacled Bhuyan, a resident of Bhuyandih, said.

Bistupur resident Bachan Singh, a retired Tata Steel employee, said dogs were now venturing out of Jubilee Park for food.

“They can be found at Northern Town (in front of Keenan Stadium) and near Circuit House. I feed biscuits and chapatis to the dogs every morning. A police constable stopped me near Bistupur turnaround yesterday (Thursday), but when I told him that dogs were starving, he allowed me to proceed with a warning to return home soon,” he added.

Sunil Jha, a businessman from Sakchi, said it should be everyone’s responsibility to feed the strays. “I know about the lockdown and understand the importance of staying indoors, but I take the risk of police action and go out to feed animals. If we don’t think about them, who will?”

Notwithstanding the noble efforts by morning walkers, most of the animals remain hungry for the rest of the day.

“We have plans to request the administration to issue us passes to feed the animals in the afternoons and evenings,” said Praveen Singh, a pet lover and caterer who owns two labradors and a German Shepherd.