Arctic foxes and a South American coati find refuge at the Chattanooga Zoo

To most people, a 10-foot-square space might feel like a jail cell.

But for two arctic foxes and a South American coati rescued this June from tiny cages in a Van Buren County puppy mill, the Chattanooga Zoo's quarantine cells were almost palatial.

Immediately after the rescue, which also recovered 38 dogs, Nashville's Walden's Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center contacted the zoo to see if they could care for the unexpected exotic discoveries, said Darde Long, the zoo's executive director.

"Because we're licensed to do it, we're an easy choice," Ms. Long said. "We were in a position to be able to take care of them, and I think they were grateful to be able to pawn them off because they didn't have anywhere else to put them."

The foxes remained in quarantine for a mandatory 30-day period before being moved to the zoo's Asia building, where they are allowed outside at night. The coati continues to stay in the quarantine room in a large cage slung with hammocks, but it is no longer considered a health risk, said assistant zoo director Holly Lockhart.

Exotic animals are found during raids on domestic animal mills and animal hoarders about 10-20 percent of the time, said Scotlund Hasley, the senior director of emergency services for the Humane Society of the United States.

Whatever their reasons for collecting exotic animals, mill owners and hoarders are rarely equipped to provide for them, Mr. Hasley said.

"The fact of the matter is that they're in over their heads, and they can't maintain or properly or humanely care for the animals in their custody," he said.

Despite benefiting from proper diet and veterinary care at the zoo, the poor living conditions at the Van Buren County puppy mill have left the foxes and coati with lingering physical and mental problems, zookeepers said.

The male fox will probably have long-term issues with his front legs from his time spent in cramped quarters, said David Bond, the zookeeper who has overseen the foxes' care since their arrival in July.

The coati's issues have been harder to treat. Physically, she's recovered from the effects of malnutrition, but thanks to having her front paws declawed, she's lost ability to climb and dig, both favorite activities of coatis. As a result, she will likely have lasting neurological issues like nervous twitching, said Kirk Parker, her keeper.

The coati will likely stay on in Chattanooga to join the two already in the zoo's current collection, but the foxes are just wintering here until they can be sent to their new home at the Louisville Zoo, Ms. Lockhart said.

"I would like to save them and keep them all, ... but I think the right thing to do is send them somewhere where they'll have a beautiful new home," Ms. Lockhart said.

DID YOU KNOW

* Coatis are members of the Procyonidae family, which also includes raccoons. They are sometimes called Brazilian aardvarks, hog-nosed coons and snookum bears. Coatis have double-jointed ankles that allow them to descend trees head first.

* Arctic foxes are found throughout the world's arctic regions and can survive in temperatures as low as minus-58 degrees. Arctic foxes have white fur only during the winter. During warmer weather, their coats are brown or gray.

Source: National Geographic and Sea World