The family tree grows at Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota

With two children of her own, East County's Danielle Rosaire had no intention of adding additional child care duties to her life.

Then she met Stella.

Now as she goes about her duties caring for 8-year-old Ella and 6-year-old Clayton Jr., she is literally attached to Stella, a 9-month-old, two-toed sloth.

Stella, who eventually will become Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary's first sloth, needed a place to stay while her habitat is being constructed.

Danielle's husband, Clayton Rosaire, is vice president and chief operating officer of Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary. So the family took on the challenge.

"For the first three weeks I slept on the couch with her," Danielle Rosaire said. "My husband was worried she would somehow get out of the house."

Sloths are known for their four-inch claws they use to hang on tree branches. Stella began to use her claws to hang on to Danielle's neck.

"She hangs on like a baby,"Danielle Rosaire said. "That's why I am so in love with her, I think. She is like my third baby now."

For the immediate future, Stella has a custom cage in Rosaire's living room. She will eventually take on the role of the habitat's newest "educational ambassador." Part of Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary's mission is to educate the public on "the importance of exotic animal preservation, conservation and habitat preservation through educational demonstrations."

Sanctuary representatives had taken tortoises to local schools when they taught kids about their mission until about seven years ago. Since that time, the sanctuary has done less traveling to schools and instead has welcomed classes to the habitat for field trips.

The habitat's representatives now would like to make more trips to schools once again with Stella filling a mascot's role.

“We would like to get her well acquainted with our volunteers so that people can take her around to schools and show her off,” Danielle Rosaire said.

The habitat, which is building a 10-foot x 8-foot x 13-foot enclosure for Stella, hopes to teach students about Stella’s diet, habits and sleeping patterns. A Sloth's lifespan is typically around 40 years.

“We want to make sure it is a comfortable, safe environment for her,” Danielle Rosaire said.

Even after the enclosure for Stella is finished, Danielle Rosaire said she will continue to bring her home for "bonding" purposes. It is another way of saying they have fallen in love with Stella.

“She is such a cutie,” Clayton Rosaire said.

Even the family dog, Dudley, loves Stella after a rough start when the two met.

Dudley licked the new member of the family which caused Stella to bite his tongue.

"Now they are such good friends,” Danielle Rosaire said.

"I never expected or wanted to own a sloth," she said. "But she has become really special to us. She is my beautiful little baby."