Ed given new home in Delta

Surrey Now
Published: Friday, August 29, 2008
Ed the Bum has a new home.

Ed Chase, aka Ed the Bum, has been camping out in various Surrey locations for several years. Most recently he was living with his dogs, Raymond and Darryl, on a boulevard at 96th Avenue and 160th Street where he found himself in conflict with neighbours and businesses in the area.

In early July, the SPCA seized Raymond for allegedly biting a man who was fighting with Ed at a gas station on the corner. The SPCA wants to destroy the dog, but Ed has hired a lawyer to fight the kill order in provincial court next April.

Now Ed the Bum and Darryl have been taken in by Penny March, founder of Forgotten Felines, a group that operates a no-kill shelter for cats in Delta.

"We've got him on a site we have in Delta," March said Thursday.

"I get involved because of the animals, not because of the people. It's my job now to make sure he's fed every day and kept warm."

This isn't the first time March has tried to get someone off the street.

In January 2006, she found a home for Keith Finsterwald, a homeless man who won an award for bravery for his part in rescuing a woman from a car that crashed into the Fraser River in Vancouver.

March hooked up Finsterwald with Petra Smith, who ran an animal shelter north of Cloverdale where he went to live and work. Before long, however, Finsterwald was back on the street. According to Smith, he disappeared for three days after getting his first paycheque and started smoking crack at the farm.

Three months after his arrival, Finsterwald left for good.

March said Ed's a different kind of guy.

"Finsterwald stole my money and he stole my car. With Ed, I could leave my purse with him and he wouldn't even look at it."

She knows Ed has had trouble getting along with people, but said life on her little farm seems to suit him just fine.

"He's very intelligent and actually very handy. He's fixing things for us here; it's great. He's very easy to get along with as long as he's busy and he loves Darryl. I have to give him two of everything, because if I only give him one sandwich, he gives it to Darryl."

Ed's still camping out, however, sleeping in a tent March bought for him. She hopes someone will donate a trailer for him to live in.

"People can donate at our website and just mark the donation for Ed. We're a registered charity so we can give a tax receipt."

To donate, visit http://forgottenfelines.ca.

tcolley@thenownewspaper.com

Darryl waiting in his wagon to go on a walk-about with Ed