At just eight months old, Bailey the Aussiedoodle is already sprinkling joy everywhere he goes—quite literally, since his favorite hobby involves playing in the sprinkler system. With his signature blend of Australian Shepherd speed and Poodle smarts, Bailey is a little firecracker wrapped in fluff, tipping the scales at no more than 25 pounds of pure cuteness.

But Bailey’s story is more than cute—it’s deeply meaningful. “We were not looking for another pet since we were still grieving the loss of our 13-year-old Beagle who moved with us here from Fairhope,” shared Beverly Kellen. That beloved beagle was named Bayley—after the bay in Fairhope. Then, Beverly read in the neighborhood Facebook group about a puppy named Bailey who needed a forever home. Amazingly, he had been born the very same month their Bayley crossed the rainbow bridge.

“To us, it was a message written in the stars,” Beverly said. “Bailey is a blessing because I think God knew that we were so sad and we needed another Bailey to love.”

Bailey’s previous owner loved him dearly but realized she couldn’t manage a puppy full-time. The transition was filled with care and intention—the day the Kellens brought him home, she gave them his car seat. “We strapped him into his seat and he rode peacefully all the way home looking out his window at the traffic. I sensed that he knew he was going to his forever home and that he would be very spoiled.” The families have stayed in touch and the Kellens have even brought Bailey back for visits. They hope to continue sharing Bailey’s love for as long as possible.

Bailey now enjoys a life full of walks, with at least two daily (he never lets Beverly and Jim forget what time it is!) and joyful romps through the sprinkler. He’s a quick learner, a devoted little herder, and a social butterfly in dog form. Although mostly a homebody,” Beverly says, “Bailey meets neighborhood dogs on just about every walk. He is quite charming and likes to meet friends.”

And speaking of friends—Bailey’s sister, Ellie, was featured in the December issue of Stroll The Preserve! The two share the same father, and a playdate is already in the works. He’s also made a new pal across the street—an Aussiedoodle named Hero—and the two pups have already enjoyed a playdate!

With his twinkling eyes and playful spirit, Bailey reminds us that God hears our prayers — even the unspoken ones. He knows our deepest sadness and answers with unexpected blessings. Sometimes, when we least expect it, joy finds its way back into our lives — just like Bailey did.