A Chilliwack family is on the hunt for a special puppy that has the same condition as its youngest member 害羞草研究所� a limb difference.

Two-year-old Ivy McLeod is a congenital bilateral amputee. Both her arms were not formed correctly while in the womb. There害羞草研究所檚 no official name for it, so it害羞草研究所檚 typically known as a 害羞草研究所渓imb difference害羞草研究所� because her limbs are different than what most people have.

Ivy害羞草研究所檚 mom Vanessa said they are now searching for a puppy, who also has a limb difference, to join the family.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 looking for a companion for my daughter who was born with limbs that are a little different than most. What others might think imperfect or flawed, I think is beautiful and deserving of love,害羞草研究所� Vanessa said.

She and her husband, Sean, found out about Ivy害羞草研究所檚 limb difference when she was 19 weeks pregnant. The specialist appointment she had with doctors and a counsellor at BC Children害羞草研究所檚 Hospital was 害羞草研究所渟everely disappointing,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淭hey told me to terminate my pregnancy. They told me she would have no quality of life.害羞草研究所�

After declining the termination, Vanessa was offered an amniocentesis 害羞草研究所� a procedure where a sample of amniotic fluid is taken to test for any genetic abnormality. There are risks with an amniocentesis, so the McLeods declined that, too.

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The remainder of her pregnancy was difficult and emotional with a lot of fear and anxiety, but on the day Ivy was born, Vanessa knew she made the right choice.

害羞草研究所淭he moment she was born and she looked me in the eyes, I knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.害羞草研究所�

Because of the limb difference, doctors figured there must be some underlying cause, but there wasn害羞草研究所檛. Ivy was born perfectly healthy and still is two years later.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 a normal two-year-old. Whatever she wants to do, she does it,害羞草研究所� Vanessa said. 害羞草研究所淪he refuses to let me help her up the stairs. She害羞草研究所檚 very independent. She害羞草研究所檚 the most fearless, determined little girl I害羞草研究所檝e ever met.害羞草研究所�

Ivy uses her toes like fingers to pick things up. She grasps a pen with her little toes, just like anyone else would use their hands.

When playing, she pushes buttons on toys with her toes. She will tuck something under her chin, or between her shoulder and ear to carry something.

Ivy does anything she wants, she just has her own 害羞草研究所渦nique害羞草研究所� way of doing it, says her mom.

Now the McLeod family wants to welcome a unique dog into their family 害羞草研究所� one with a limb difference, just like Ivy.

They would like to get a small- or medium-breed puppy so that it can grow with Ivy and her four-year-old sister Elena.

Vanessa said she knows there are many 害羞草研究所渢ripod害羞草研究所� dogs out there, but many of them often come with trauma issues following the accident or illness that resulted in the loss of their limb.

They are not closed off to the idea of getting an older dog, but they would prefer a puppy.

害羞草研究所淚 believe in fate. I truly believe there害羞草研究所檚 a puppy out there that is just meant to be part of our family,害羞草研究所� Vanessa said. 害羞草研究所淎 lot of people would discard a dog like that. I don害羞草研究所檛 believe a limb difference 害羞草研究所� whether a dog or a human 害羞草研究所� makes you any less worthy of love, of life, of a home. People told me that maybe Ivy doesn害羞草研究所檛 deserve a shot at life, and here she is.害羞草研究所�

She knows one day, Ivy will ask why she was born this way.

害羞草研究所淚 think that having a little puppy companion who was born the same way will be a huge comfort to her. I害羞草研究所檓 hoping they will have a really special bond because of their differences.

害羞草研究所淚 want people to know her life isn害羞草研究所檛 sad. I don害羞草研究所檛 feel sad about her differences. She害羞草研究所檚 just different and different is beautiful in so many unexpected ways,害羞草研究所� Vanessa said.

If you know of a puppy that might be the perfect fit for Ivy and her family, contact Vanessa at vanessadmcleod@gmail.com, or on .