A Chilliwack family is on the hunt for a special puppy that has the same condition as its youngest member B次元官网网址� a limb difference.

Two-year-old Ivy McLeod is a congenital bilateral amputee. Both her arms were not formed correctly while in the womb. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no official name for it, so itB次元官网网址檚 typically known as a B次元官网网址渓imb differenceB次元官网网址� because her limbs are different than what most people have.

IvyB次元官网网址檚 mom Vanessa said they are now searching for a puppy, who also has a limb difference, to join the family.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 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,B次元官网网址� Vanessa said.

She and her husband, Sean, found out about IvyB次元官网网址檚 limb difference when she was 19 weeks pregnant. The specialist appointment she had with doctors and a counsellor at BC ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital was B次元官网网址渟everely disappointing,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭hey told me to terminate my pregnancy. They told me she would have no quality of life.B次元官网网址�

After declining the termination, Vanessa was offered an amniocentesis B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭he moment she was born and she looked me in the eyes, I knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.B次元官网网址�

Because of the limb difference, doctors figured there must be some underlying cause, but there wasnB次元官网网址檛. Ivy was born perfectly healthy and still is two years later.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a normal two-year-old. Whatever she wants to do, she does it,B次元官网网址� Vanessa said. B次元官网网址淪he refuses to let me help her up the stairs. SheB次元官网网址檚 very independent. SheB次元官网网址檚 the most fearless, determined little girl IB次元官网网址檝e ever met.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渦niqueB次元官网网址� way of doing it, says her mom.

Now the McLeod family wants to welcome a unique dog into their family B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渢ripodB次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚 believe in fate. I truly believe thereB次元官网网址檚 a puppy out there that is just meant to be part of our family,B次元官网网址� Vanessa said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of people would discard a dog like that. I donB次元官网网址檛 believe a limb difference B次元官网网址� whether a dog or a human B次元官网网址� makes you any less worthy of love, of life, of a home. People told me that maybe Ivy doesnB次元官网网址檛 deserve a shot at life, and here she is.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚 think that having a little puppy companion who was born the same way will be a huge comfort to her. IB次元官网网址檓 hoping they will have a really special bond because of their differences.

B次元官网网址淚 want people to know her life isnB次元官网网址檛 sad. I donB次元官网网址檛 feel sad about her differences. SheB次元官网网址檚 just different and different is beautiful in so many unexpected ways,B次元官网网址� 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 .