Milly Olson adored animals.
They were her lifelong passion.

It all began with a dog named Toby.

It’s hard to truly fathom Milly Olson’s deep connection with animals, but it was clear to all who knew her. To Mily, animals were not merely creatures. They were friends. Companions. Family.

She not only opened her heart to them, she also opened her home. Together with her husband, Dick, Milly founded Critter Creek Sanctuary Ranch in Palm City, Florida.

Carved out of the Florida wilderness on a large tract of land straddling a tributary of the St. Lucie River, Critter Creek became a safe place for animals. Dogs, goats, parrots, peacocks, horses, rabbits, emus, and others found their way to Milly and the ranch, where she embraced them with love and compassion, and made a home for them.

Yet throughout it all, she never forgot Toby, the sweet and playful puppy that had stolen her heart as a little girl.

As Milly’s health began to fail, her concern was not for herself, but for her beloved animals, and the beautiful natural sanctuary she had built for them at Critter Creek. How could she take care of them after she was gone?

So she established Toby’s Legacy Critter Creek Ranch Foundation to see to their ongoing care, and to ultimately deliver an endowment to protect dogs just like Toby.

Sadly, Milly passed away in 2018. But her legacy and Toby’s live on in the hearts of the dedicated staff and volunteers at Critter Creek Sanctuary Ranch.

Please consider making a donation to help keep her dream alive. Thank you.

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Memory Garden

A living monument

Featuring a waterfall built entirely of rocks from the property, the Memory Garden at Critter Creek is a gorgeously tranquil spot to reflect upon the sublime beauty of this majestic natural landscape.