Pet owners’ warning after beloved golden retriever puppy killed by lightning in Gawler, South Australia

A heartbroken family is warning pet owners to keep their animals inside during storms after their golden retriever puppy was killed by lightning.

Six-month-old Walter was struck as he played in the family’s backyard while sudden thunderstorms passed over Gawler, South Australia, and into southeast Australia on Sunday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Owners’ heartbreak after puppy killed by lightning strike.

Walter’s owners, Sarah and James Somerville, told 7NEWS they were going about their day as usual when the storm developed.

“I gave Walter a cuddle that morning,” Sarah said.

“Did I think I would be getting a phone call within three hours? Did I think a dog would get struck by lightning? No.”

James said his daughter, Hannah, called him to say she had come home to find the puppy with “blood coming out of his mouth”.

“(Hannah) was in absolute hysterics, I was trying my best to calm her down,” he said.

“Basically, the words I got out of her were ‘Walter is dead, our puppy had died’.”

While unsure of what had happened, the family suspected it was a lightning strike “based on what we had seen on Walter’s body”.

Their fears were confirmed by a veterinarian and CCTV footage from their showing Walter with their older retriever outside during the storm.

They are now warning people to keep all members of the family — fur or otherwise — inside during lightning storms.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s your child or your pet,” James said.

“Your pet is still part of your family, they’re still a loved one.”