If there is one thing to be said about Muskoka Lakes councillors Brian Hare and Stewart Martin, it’s that they are not afraid to speak their mind.

Even after a jaguar escaped from a facility in their municipality known for improperly housing big cats, Hare and Martin are willing to publicly support that facility and oppose any municipal action that would impede its ability to possess exotic animals.

Gutsy? For sure. Foolish, however, is the better word to describe their positions.

To call last week’s events at Guhas Lions and Tigers Farm an isolated incident that warrants no action on the part of Muskoka Lakes council is not only idiotic, but completely narrow-minded.

Workers at the San Francisco Zoo probably thought their facility was immune to human tragedy as well. The zoo, an accredited facility with trained animal workers, was completely caught off guard when a Siberian tiger escaped its cage in December and killed an innocent bystander.

News reports quoted zoo keepers expressing shock and dismay at the incident. Keepers were amazed that the cat could get out of its almost 20-foot-high cage, a seemingly impossible feat.

Such a tragic event demonstrates that when it comes to dangerous animals, no amount of precaution can eliminate all risks to public safety.

Accidents happen, and sometimes the results can be deadly.

So why, then, is housing lions and cougars at a Muskoka Lakes farm with questionable cages OK?

If a jaguar has already escaped from Guhas, what makes Martin and Hare so sure that it won’t happen again? Are they willing to live with the consequences of another cat attack?

The warning bells could not be any louder for council.

Hare and Martin may not like the origins of this issue, but as our elected officials, they should put aside their personal opinions and act to support the safety of their constituents.

JL