The Lady and the Tiger

"Jardindor is, by most estimates, a new Eden: from the numbers of trees to the exact spacing of every lamppost and garden, the alien planet is perfection, a totally controlled terraformed world on the outreaches of colonized space. When Dr. Shona Taylor receives her posting as physician to the settlers on Jardindor, she packs up her family - children and animals, as well as Chirwl, the alien ottle - expecting a very serene six months. But the people of Jardindor are guarding more than their perfect world. They're hiding a dark secret, and as Shona learns more about her new hosts and their strange fascination with animals, her new job turns into a nightmare." (cited from Amazon.com)