Calaebs Canines

To our friends, our family, and those who have landed here by a social media share we are so glad you are here. Each post allows us to share our sweet boy with the world and to ensure his memory is honored through pursuits of his passions.

Calaebs Canines is an event created to honor our oldest son Calaebs life and legacy. We host this event annually on the weekend of his birthday, July 4th, at the Lynchburg Humane Society. This year Calaeb will be 17, so to celebrate that we will cover the adoption fees for 17 dogs.

July 4th, 2006 we welcomed the sweetest 9lbs 4oz ray of sunshine you ever did see. From that moment on our life was forever changed. We felt a love we had never known. There was a depth to his soul that was breathtakingly beautiful. It was a depth that allowed him to see into the hearts, hurts, and hopes of so many in the years to follow.

November 27th, 2020 our life was forever changed once again as his life was tragically cut short. There remains a gaping hole in our hearts filled with indescribable sadness, and a longing to feel connected to him.

It is the deepest desire of so many bereaved families to continue the legacy of their child/sibling, and to ensure that others speak their loved ones name aloud as the days, months, and years pass. We plead in our most desperate prayers for you to remember them the way we do. From those deepest desires, Calaebs Canines was born. An opportunity to honor Calaeb on his birthday each year, and a commitment to continue the work he started.

Calaebs love for humans and animals alike was deep, inclusive, and passionate. He saw the marginalized and ostracized and made sure they knew they were seen, valued, and important. Simply put he always chose love.

From his first canine best friend, Ozzy, who he rescued from a shelter; to his sweet girl Sophie who knew all his secrets; to the German Shepherd he wanted in pursuit of becoming a Navy Seal. He loved them all equally because as far as he was concerned they were in need of being loved and they mattered.

There is seldom celebration in the years that follow the loss of a child. This event allows us to celebrate his life and honor his passions and commitment to spreading love and kindness. We simply cannot do this alone, we need your support. Penzeys Spices made an incredible donation towards half of our dog adoptions, so we are tasked with fundraising the rest. Please consider helping us get to $2,200 this year to ensure that we can honor each year of Calaebs life through the adoption of the full 17 dogs.

Whether you are on this journey with us or you just happened upon our story, thank you for speaking his name aloud. We want you to know, You Matter!