Unleashing Love: Calaeb Nowell’s Enduring Legacy

LYNCHBURG, Virginia. – If there is one thing Gunner Nowell inherited from his big brother Calaeb, it is the love of dogs.

“He would be happy for me,” said Gunner.

Calaeb died in 2020 when he was only 15 years old.

And even though he is only eleven years old himself, Gunner has made it his mission to continue Calaeb’s desire to help animals.

“It’s hard to put into words. It’s a passion. His first dog, Ozzy, was actually a rescue dog,” Gunner said.

He and his mother founded Calaeb’s Canines with a mission.

“Bring all dogs to good homes,” he said.

In 2021, they sponsored the adoption of 16 dogs on Calaeb’s 16th birthday and the campaign has grown from there.

“Every year we sponsor as much as he gets old. This year he’s 18, so we’re sponsoring 18 dogs,” he said.

The effects were felt widely in the Lynchburg community.

“We raised $10,000 and 66 dogs,” he said.

They’re doing so at the Lynchburg Humane Society, where executive director Amber Cabell said Calaeb’s legacy has made a huge difference.

“18 dogs is not a big number, but it means the world to us. We only have about 48 kennels to house dogs in, and the last time I checked our numbers, we had about 90 to 100 dogs in our care,” Cabell said.

Gunner and his family don’t want to focus on the grief over Calaeb’s death, but rather use this adoption event as a celebration.

“It makes me feel really good,” he said.

For Gunner, it is a way to stay in touch with his brother even years after his death.

“I can do something in his memory and it’s not just a small thing, it’s a big thing. Just like him,” he said.

Calaeb’s dog adoption event will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lynchburg Humane Society.

The first 18 dogs will be sponsored. Even if not all 18 dogs are adopted on Saturday, the sponsorship will be extended until all dogs are adopted.

More information can be found here.