FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Tennessee State Fair Rescue Operation:
Contact: Steve Burton, Director of Events, 615-300-7750
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST today at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds livestock barns (enter at the Rains Avenue entrance and proceed to shed 5) for an update and briefing on the rescued animals from the Cannon County property. Media will be given full photo access to the animals in an effort to convey what the fairgrounds staff, veterinarians and volunteers do and DON’T need at this time.
LeighAnn McCullum, Tennessee state director for the Humane Society of the United States has requested this press conference in conjunction with the Tennessee State Fair staff to communicate to the public the immediate and long term needs for this rescue effort. Rescue workers from 11 states as well as fairgrounds staff are working around the clock to perform triage and assess immediate health needs. Here is the immediate call to action:
Immediate needs:
- Cash donations are being taken at a link to the Humane Society at: www.tennesseestatefair.org/. – this is the PRIMARY need today
- Food/meals are needed for the 20 volunteers and veterinarians who have left their families over the Holiday to tend to the animals.
- Volunteers please email for further instruction on scheduling
Hold off until next week:
- Hay, straw, bedding and feed is not needed until further assessments can take place.
- Enough bedding and hay has been delivered to the fairgrounds to accommodate through next week.
Due to heavy call volume and the Holiday weekend, we are urging you to not call the Humane Association, but donations can be made at: humane society, donations can be annotated to go specifically to the Tennessee State Fair Rescue Operation.