Some dogs just seem to carry sunshine wherever they go—and Sunday is one of them.
A stunning Welsh Terrier with deep brown eyes and a spirited yet gentle heart, Sunday was bred and owned by Keith Bailey, a name well known in the world of Welsh Terriers. Under her registered title, “Bayleigh Carroway’s On the Money,” Sunday finished her American Kennel Club Championship in October 2023. She had beauty, breeding, and heart in equal measure. After raising a litter of puppies, Keith decided Sunday deserved a new adventure—a home where she could trade the show ring for the comfort of family life.
A New Beginning in Pennsylvania
Dave and Monique, a couple from Pennsylvania, had already welcomed a male Welsh Terrier named Bandit from Keith and thought their energetic boy could use a playmate. So, on a bright Tennessee morning, they made the long drive to Knoxville to bring home Sunday.
From the start, Sunday followed Bandit everywhere—around the house, through the yard, even to his favorite window perch. Her affection was charming, almost comical, as she trailed behind him like a shadow. But before long, Bandit began to look less amused. His side-eyes turned into sighs, and the household harmony started to wobble.
Then came the mishap. While playing in their fenced yard, Sunday leapt from a short brick wall—just 18 inches high—but landed awkwardly on uneven ground. She limped on her left rear leg, and a trip to the vet revealed a soft-tissue injury. Rest and pain medication were prescribed, but the calm never quite returned.
With her confidence shaken and her leg sore, Sunday began claiming Bandit’s favorite resting spots. When Bandit tried to reclaim them, scuffles broke out. One nip on the ear later, and the friendship was officially on the rocks.
Dave and Monique, hearts heavy, turned to the Welsh Terrier community for advice. Some suggested Sunday’s pain might be the cause. Others offered training tips. But when they reached out to Keith, her experience was clear and compassionate: “Dogs don’t kiss and make up after fighting,” she said. She offered to help find Sunday a new home if it came to that.
As a final effort, Dave and Monique brought in a professional trainer. After observing both dogs over several visits, her conclusion was simple: “They’re both good dogs,” she said, “but they just don’t like each other. Like people sometimes—it’s just not a match.”
And so, after three heartfelt months, Dave and Monique made the difficult decision to let Sunday go, determined to find her the perfect fit.
A Chance Connection
Hundreds of miles away in New Hampshire, my husband Duncan and I were quietly searching for a new dog. We had recently lost our beloved Welsh Terrier, Haley, at sixteen—a loyal companion who had also come from Keith’s line. Losing her left a silence in the house that only the patter of Terrier paws could fill.
We had considered an Airedale through rescue, but with Duncan’s back issues, we decided a smaller Welsh would be wiser. I reached out to Keith, who assured me she’d help us find the right dog when the time came.
That time arrived sooner than expected. When Sunday’s situation unfolded, Keith called and said, “I think I’ve found your girl.”
Monique and I spoke by phone, and we agreed to meet when she and Dave returned from vacation. They offered to drive Sunday—and Bandit—all the way to New Hampshire. I invited them for lunch, excited and a little nervous to meet the dog whose story I already knew by heart.
Love at First Sight
When the day came, I opened the front door and was greeted by a pair of curious brown eyes that seemed to ask, “Are you my new person?” In that instant, I knew. Sunday was home.
In neutral territory, Sunday and Bandit coexisted peacefully, and as the day went on, Dave began to relax. He saw how naturally Sunday fit in, how comfortable she seemed.
Before they left, Monique handed me a wrapped package. Inside was Sunday’s Championship ribbon from the Montgomery Dog Show—something she had planned to frame herself. Instead, she gifted it to us, a symbol of Sunday’s past and the bright new chapter ahead. Today, that ribbon hangs proudly in our bedroom.
Life with Sunday
Since joining our family in August 2025, Sunday has become part of our everyday rhythm. She greets the morning with a wagging tail, races across the backyard with joyful bursts of energy, and—like any good Terrier—keeps a watchful eye on the neighborhood squirrels.
Our vet called her “a very nice dog” while trimming her nails, and our groomer couldn’t help but ask if she was a Champion. “Yes,” we told her, “and still every bit of one.”
Sunday now knows her favorite routes around the garden and the best sunspots in the living room. She rides happily in the car, responds to her name with a bounce in her step, and has learned that a squirrel sighting is no reason to ignore dinner time—well, almost learned.
We stay in touch with Keith, and with Dave and Monique, who are happy to hear that Sunday is thriving. Bandit, they report, is back to his playful self. It wasn’t an easy choice for them, but it was the right one.
Happily Ever After
Today, Sunday runs free in her fenced yard, ears flying, tail high, her joyful bark echoing through the air. She has brought warmth, laughter, and new friendship into our lives.
What began as a bittersweet rehoming story became something far more—proof that sometimes, the right dog just needs a second chance to find her forever family.
