Knoxville
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Published on January 07, 2025
Knoxville Community Mourns as Dog Fatally Electrocuted at Local Walmart Parking LotSource: Google Street View

A tragic incident occurred at a Knoxville Walmart this past Monday when a dog was electrocuted after stepping into a puddle in the parking lot. The Knoxville Police Department responded to the scene at the Walmart on Clinton Highway around 10:30 am, where it was reported by a witness that the dog had walked through a puddle, yelped, and then lost consciousness. Despite resuscitation attempts by the woman and others present, the dog did not survive, as confirmed by WVLT-TV.

The electrocution was said to have been caused by an electrical issue connected to "privately-owned lighting powered by a privately-owned breaker," as stated by WBIR. The KUB infrastructure, however, was reportedly functioning correctly at the time of the incident. The woman who witnessed the fatal event also felt a shock from the puddle, indicating the presence of live electricity in the water with which, the dog had fatal contact.

Young-Williams Animal Center was involved in the aftermath, transporting the dog to their facility so the owner could retrieve the remains, as reported by WBIR. A Walmart corporate representative expressed their condolences about the incident at their Knoxville location and affirmed cooperation with authorities investigating the situation.

The police have not concluded whether Walmart bears responsibility for the dog's death amid confusion over the property's management. Representatives from the Knoxville Police Department indicated they were "not sure if Walmart was responsible" and mentioned uncertainty as to whether Walmart owned or managed the parking lot where the dog died, as per WBIR.