14 Mar It Looks Like Knoxville Has Gone To The Dogs

This Mardi Growl parade pooch shows real Vol spirit.

The recent 10th annual Mardi Growl parade in Knoxville drew hundreds of costumed canines and their owners to downtown Knoxville. Downtown streets were teeming with dogs wearing boas and tutus, and Market Square was packed during the pet party that followed. The parade and party were organized by Young-Williams Animal Center to help raise money for the center’s numerous community service ventures.

The festive event serves as a hallmark for just how pet friendly Knoxville is, which is not by accident. In 2009, Knox County officials and PetSafe Brand established a goal to make Knoxville the nation’s “Most Pet Friendly Community.” And thanks to organizations like Knoxville’s Most Pet Friendly Community Committee, which includes Young-Williams Animal Center, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, and PetSafe, Knoxville has become a recognized pet-friendly city.  

In 2011, Dog Fancy magazine named Knoxville “Dogtown USA” for being the most dog friendly city in the Southeast. Visit Knoxville, the official Convention and Visitors Bureau for Knoxville and Knox County, even has “dog friendly patios” as a category of dining options, including a map of 44 restaurants that welcome dogs for outdoor dining.

Take a stroll through Market Square on any nice day and you’ll see dogs lounging on patios outside restaurants as their owners dine al fresco. Water bowls are also placed outside many restaurants and businesses, offering pets a cool drink.

There are plenty of designated play areas for dogs, too. Outdoor Knoxville lists 10 fenced dog parks on their website, with another in the works at Lakeshore Park. In addition, miles of dog-friendly trails are continually being added to the Urban Wilderness and outlying parks.

We’re proud to serve Knoxville’s pet owners and their furry friends with our emphasis on affordable wellness care. The three PetWellClinic® locations in Knoxville and Alcoa operate on a walk-in basis, no appointment necessary, with convenient hours including evenings and weekends. By doing so, we’re able to offer substantially discounted prices for vaccinations, preventative wellness care, treatment of minor conditions, and management of chronic conditions.

PetWellClinic® has three locations: 10549 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922; 7329 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919; and 228 S. Calderwood Street, Alcoa, TN 37701. Learn more about how PetWellClinic® can exceed your expectations for affordable, high quality pet care by visiting our website at www.petwellclinic.com.