Five cats, three dogs, a ferret and a lamb – no, not the Safari Park
in Ramat Gan, but rather just a partial list of the family pets of a woman somewhere in central Israel.
But despite the animals, all is not happy at home: her husband has filed for divorce, saying the situation at home was simply "impossible."
The couple married in 1988, and has three children. Their relationship had deteriorated in recent years, and they received marriage counseling in order to save the marriage.
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But counseling didn't work, relations between husband and wife continued to break apart, and recently the husband turned to a well-known family lawyer to file for divorce, saying life at home had become impossible because of his wife's affinity for animals.
Amongst other things, he said his wife's more unusual pets included a ferret and a lamb, and added the animals did not keep solely to the family garden.
Kicked out of the bedroom
The husband said his wife treats the animals "warmly," but said she routinely curses him and spits in his face.
He also said his wife kicked him out of the bedroom, and threatened to charge him with rape if he attempted to come in.
"He is afraid of his wife's provocations," said the husband's laywer. "She routinely mocks him, saying, 'you're not a real man' and 'you don't bring enough money home.' "
The wife has obtained a restraining order, making it illegal for the husband to approach the house.
When the rabbinic court renews deliberations on the case the husband is expected to ask judges to rule on child custody.