“You know how people donate their organs after they die? This store was her heart – and I feel like this was her donation.”
Donna Danyluk is one of several volunteers who helped pack up the contents of Steveston pet food store Meow and Bark, which were donated earlier this month to the hundreds of dogs and cats rescued from Afghanistan.
The donations, made on Feb. 5 in honour of Marylin Bitcon – the store’s owner who passed away suddenly in December – followed a large donation also made in her name to a couple of local animal charities last month.
“She was a nurse all her life but her dream when she retired was to open this store, a pet store,” said Danyluk, a long-time friend of Bitcon’s. She said the executor of Bitcon’s will decided her store’s stock should be donated.
Isobel McCready, who organized the donations and volunteers, said at least 150 leashes and collars, plus harnesses, coats, toys, beds, and food and treats for the cats and dogs were donated.
She added she has since made several trips to the south terminal with more donations from Bitcon's store.
“I’m amazed at how many people know Marylin in Steveston, and she is severely missed. Even the dogs…still stand at the door determined to go in and get their treats and see Marylin.”
On Feb. 1, 146 cats and 158 dogs landed at Vancouver International Airport from Afghanistan, left behind when people fled the country after the Taliban took over in August 2021.
The Kabul Small Animal Rescue and SPCA International then began rescuing the animals and working on a way to get them out of the country. No Dog Left Behind, War Paws and local groups like RainCoast Dog Rescue Society and Thank Dog I am Out Dog Rescue Society also helped with the evacuation effort.
While some of the animals were reunited with their owners, many are being kept at YVR until they can be put up for adoption.
The items given to the airport are just one of several donations made in honour of Bitcon.
“There’s a sadness but there’s also such a joy to see everything being done in her honour,” said Danyluk. “She just would be thrilled.”
Earlier this month, the Richmond News reported that, in January, Bitcon’s friends contacted RAPS and BCSPCA, saying they would like to donate the pet food from the store to both organizations.
That donation will tremendously benefit hundreds of cats and kittens at RAPS’ sanctuaries and the dog food will be provided to people in need in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, Mandy Litchmann, volunteer and outreach coordinator at RAPS, told the Richmond News last week.
“She was a super kind-hearted person and animal lover who was very knowledgeable about pets and health matters. She was amazing with our organization,” said Lichtmann at the time. She had known Bitcon for more than ten years since she joined RAPS.
BC SPCA’s Richmond Education and Adoption Centre also received “a whole U-Haul of dog food,” from that earlier donation.
Lorie Chortyk, general manager of communications at BC SPCA, previously told the News that donation will benefit other shelters and more pet guardians since many families across the province have been financially impacted by COVID-19.
McCready said shelves from Bitcon's store were donated to the hospital auxiliary thrift store and SOS thrift store in Steveston.
She said a memorial for Bitcon will be held in the spring at the off-leash dog park, so everyone in Steveston Village can come with their pets.
--With files from Nono Shen
