By Boaz Joseph
Staff Reporter
Jan 15 2006

A homeless Vancouver man made famous after he assisted in the rescue of a woman from the Fraser River earlier this month is getting a second chance with the help of two Surrey women.
Keith Finsterwald, who lives in a shanty at the south end of Fraser Street in Vancouver, is being given work and a new home by the owners of Brighter Days horse rescue centre and Forgotten Felines cat shelter (see story, pages 16-17).
Finsterwald, a former circus performer who became homeless after an accident left him unable to work, will be given a 46-foot-long mobile home donated by a Port Moody marine surveying company in a deal organized by Penny March of Forgotten Felines.
Because March’s cat shelter has no room for the trailer, it will be set up at Smith’s horse rescue centre, which relocated in December to 9099 175 St. from its former location in the Serpentine Fen area.
Brighter Days owner Petra Smith says she was approached by her friend and fellow animal rescuer March after the story about Finsterwald’s situation was made public.
In the early hours of Jan. 3, Finsterwald helped rescue a woman whose boyfriend’s truck plunged into the Fraser River. Her boyfriend died, but the injured woman was brought to shore by a Vancouver Police officer, who later deemed Finsterwald a hero.
Finsterwald’s actions are giving him a second chance.
“He’s going to be working for me,” says Smith. “I’ll be giving him room and board to get him back on his feet.”
His job will be to take care of the 27 rescued horses under her care.
“He grew up on a farm. He trained quarter horses for about a year,” she says. “He’s got a love for animals.”
Finsterwald will also volunteer at the Forgotten Felines shelter, which takes care of 250 cats in Newton.
Finsterwald’s trailer will be shared with a friend of his, Paul Kahlon.
The trailer was donated by Certispec Services Inc., a marine surveying and inspection company.
However, while the trailer is free, the estimated shipping from its present location and the construction of a proper pad for the trailer at the horse rescue centre is between $3,500 and $5,000.
- Anyone interested in donating to assist in relocating the trailer for Keith Finsterwald is asked to contact Penny March at 604-780-2287 or 604-507-5583 or visit www.forgottenfelines.ca

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