Hastings, Nebraska – Allison Rosenbach grew up in a third-generation beef-farming family in Nebraska. She knew cattle. She knew the farming life. And she knew what happened to cows when their value was measured in dollars rather than in the lives they were capable of living.
Then, at some point, something changed. Allison chose a different path.
Instead of continuing in commercial cattle production, she dedicated her life to protecting the animals she had once known primarily as livestock. She founded Riverview Rescue & Sanctuary, a nonprofit sanctuary devoted to giving rescued cows a safe place to live out their lives.
Today, Allison says she has rescued 32 cows. And now, after years of fighting to give those animals a second chance, she is fighting to keep a roof over their heads.
Riverview Rescue is facing an immediate financial crisis, and $2,300 in past-due rent must be paid to prevent the possibility of eviction, according to Allison. Without the property, she says, there is nowhere for the cows to go.
And relocating an entire herd isn’t as simple as finding another shelter. One of Riverview’s rescued residents, Jeffrey, weighs approximately 4,400 pounds. These aren’t animals who can simply be placed in a kennel, loaded into a transport van and sent somewhere else. They are living, breathing individuals who have been given a home, and losing that home could put their futures in jeopardy.
In an emergency email to Animal Victory, Allison wrote:
“I have fought incredibly hard to build this sanctuary and keep them safe, and I am doing everything I can to prevent [losing the property].”
The immediate need is approximately $5,000, she says. That includes the overdue rent, insurance, hay already owed, additional hay, minerals and fly control. But the crisis comes at a particularly difficult time.
Donations have dropped significantly despite Allison’s continued fundraising efforts. She has also recently faced unexpected veterinary emergencies involving her own animals and the heartbreaking loss of her beloved 18-year-old cat.
She isn’t asking donors to replace those personal expenses. She’s simply trying to keep Riverview standing while navigating an extraordinarily difficult financial period. And she does nearly all of it herself. Feeding the cows. Caring for them. Managing their shelter. Arranging veterinary care. Raising money. Handling administration. And doing whatever else is necessary to keep the sanctuary running.
There is no large staff standing behind her. There is no corporate safety net. There is Allison, and the animals who depend on her. Riverview’s mission is rooted in a simple belief: every sentient being has feelings, emotions and family, and everyone deserves the opportunity to live a happy life.
Allison has spent years trying to make that belief a reality for cows who otherwise might never have experienced life outside the livestock system. Now, she needs people to help her give them something just as important:
A place to stay.
A donation of any amount could help Allison pay the overdue rent, purchase desperately needed hay and supplies, maintain insurance and keep Riverview operating while she works toward a more stable future. For these cows, this isn’t simply about keeping a rescue open. It’s about keeping their home. And for Allison, it’s about protecting the lives she has devoted herself to saving.
Please consider helping Riverview Rescue & Sanctuary through this emergency. Even a small donation can become part of the bridge that keeps these animals safe.
Find the Riverview Rescue & Sanctuary on Facebook at this link.
