07/24/2026
Where Have We Been?
Over the past couple of weeks, many of you may have noticed that I’ve been much quieter than usual on social media. If you’ve sent a message, wondered where all the puppy updates have gone, or noticed I haven’t been posting as much, I wanted to take a moment to explain why.
Life has a way of reminding us that our plans can change in an instant.
Our Labrador, Stella, recently tore her CCL (cranial cruciate ligament), the canine equivalent of a human ACL, and everything came to a sudden stop. The injury didn’t happen while running through the woods, jumping off furniture, or doing anything most people would consider risky. She was simply playing inside with another one of our dogs when she slipped on our laminate floor. Her leg slid out from under her in just the wrong way, and in a split second, everything changed.
Since then, our days have been filled with veterinary appointments, diagnostics, TPLO surgery, medications, helping her through recovery, and making sure she’s as comfortable as possible. Like so many of you, my focus shifted completely to caring for one of my own. If you’ve been waiting on a response from me or wondering why things have been quieter than normal, this is why.
As breeders, we spend countless hours focusing on genetics, health testing, nutrition, early development, and giving every puppy the best possible start in life. We work hard to reduce preventable health risks. But one thing no amount of responsible breeding can completely eliminate is the possibility of an unexpected accident or injury.
Stella’s diagnostics, TPLO surgery, hospitalization, medications, follow-up care, and rehabilitation have already exceeded $7,000, and we’re still early in her recovery.
This experience has humbled me.
Years ago, I chose not to purchase pet insurance because I believed I could simply pay for emergencies if they ever happened. Thankfully, I was able to make that decision for Stella without hesitation. But this experience has reminded me just how quickly veterinary expenses can become overwhelming.
Because of Stella’s journey, I’ll be encouraging every puppy family to have a plan in place for unexpected veterinary emergencies. Whether that’s through a quality pet insurance policy or by intentionally setting aside an emergency fund dedicated to your dog, the important thing is simply being prepared.
I’m not recommending one insurance company over another, and I’m certainly not trying to sell anyone a policy. I’m simply sharing our experience in the hope that another family can learn from it without having to go through it first.
None of us expect our healthy dog to suffer a serious injury while simply playing in the house. Yet that’s exactly what happened to Stella.
Unexpected emergencies can include:
* CCL injuries requiring TPLO surgery
* Broken bones
* Foreign body surgeries
* Emergency illnesses
* Poisonings
* Lacerations and other accidents
Being prepared doesn’t eliminate the possibility of an emergency, but it can make one of the hardest days of your dog’s life just a little less stressful.
One of my greatest responsibilities as a breeder isn’t just raising exceptional puppies. It’s continuing to educate and support the families who trust me with one of life’s most important decisions.
If my experience with Stella encourages even one family to prepare before an emergency happens, then sharing this story will have been worth it.
The best time to prepare is before you ever need it. Once an injury or illness occurs, it may be too late to obtain coverage for that condition, and building an emergency fund after a crisis has already begun is far more difficult.
I hope none of our ICS families ever face an emergency like this. But if they do, I want their focus to be on making the best medical decisions for their dog, not wondering how they’ll afford the care.
This experience has also been a reminder that accidents don’t discriminate. Stella wasn’t hiking, competing, or doing anything unusual. She was simply being a dog, playing inside her own home. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
Thank you to everyone who has checked in on Stella, prayed for her recovery, and shown our family so much kindness during this difficult season. Your encouragement, messages, and prayers have meant more than you know.
Sometimes the greatest lessons come through our own experiences.
Stella has reminded me that being prepared isn’t expecting the worst. It’s making sure you’re ready if the unexpected happens.
Please continue to keep Stella in your prayers as she begins the long road to recovery. We look forward to getting back to sharing puppy updates, educational content, and all the things that make the Impressive Cartwright Standards community so special.
Thank you for your patience, your support, and for being part of our journey. God has been faithful through every step, and we trust He will continue to carry Stella through her recovery.
