The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine in New York City isn't your average pet clinic. Cats and dogs are not allowed, but you can find bearded dragons, sugar gliders, ferrets and more. Linda Kuo spent over a year documenting the extraordinary patients of the center for her series Displaced.

Kuo made portraits of pets as they underwent everything from routine checkups to complicated surgeries. Treatments include endoscopy, radiosurgery, mass removals, and even shell repair. The photographer captures her subjects in a way that’s clinical but compassionate, showing the special skills and curious technology required to treat exotic animals.

She witnessed dozens of cases that came through the door—a rabbit in need of dental work or a macaw with feather destructive disorder. Some animals arrived deeply malnourished from neglect while others were there for expensive specialty treatments. In the case of the rat under the glass apparatus, the pet was preparing to undergo a costly procedure to remove a tumor. While some people might find it ridiculous to spend that much money on a rat, Kuo sees it as a personal choice. "For me it was about accountability," she says. "If they wanted to spend their money on being a responsible pet owner, I tip my hat to them."

The photographer had full access to the facilities, and the vets were comfortable with her roaming around. Just like she would in a normal hospital, Kuo tried to be respectful of the patients. She avoided shooting scenes that were too bloody or gruesome and was careful to not agitate the animals with her presence. In one instance, a macaw was clearly upset by the camera so she stopped shooting. "It would just tremble every time the shutter clicked," she says.

The vets and pet owners make an appearance in the form of careful hands extending into each frame—delicately bandaging a rabbit's foot or tenderly holding a stethoscope to a dove for a checkup. Kuo feels these subtle gestures reveal the compassion vets have for the animals. "For all that they [the vets] see and manage and endure, they are not callous," she says. "They show up every day and are fully committed to the patients."

Kuo hopes the series educates people about how challenging it can be to care for these animals. Though it can be fun, the photographer would discourage people from purchasing an exotic pet. If they do buy one, she suggests extensive research first. "These animals suffer because they are removed from the indigenous environment; they have natural instincts to be wild," she says. "Even if they are captivity bred, they have very specialized needs."