Gastineau Guiding receives award, sweet treat from PETA for rescuing deer

PETA has awarded a Juneau whale-watching company a Compassionate Business Award after one of its tour groups rescued a drowning deer near Shelter Island last week.

“PETA keeps their finger on the pulse of animal issues around the country,” said Marissa Price, an employee of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “We have a lot of people who stay in tune to issues with animals.”

Last week those people heard about a Gastineau Guiding whale-watching crew that saved a downing deer on July 27.

While sailing back from a tour, the crew received word that two deer were attempting to swim between Admiralty and Shelter islands. When the boat got close to the deer, the crew and passengers realized that it was in distress. The other deer was presumed to have already drowned. The boat’s crew, with the help of several passengers pulled the deer from the water and returned it to Shelter Island, according to Ashlynn Antoni, sales and marketing manager for Gastineau Guiding.

[Gastineau Guiding rescues swimming deer in distress]

The animal rights group decided to extend its thanks to the tour company.

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk presented Gastineau Guiding with a Compassionate Business Award “for going all out to rescue a struggling, distressed deer.” PETA called the Antoni Wednesday morning, letting her know it would be mailing the award shortly.

“Gastineau Guiding Company’s passengers and crew persevered and ultimately saved this deer from an exhausting, terrifying death in Alaskan waters,” Newkirk wrote in a press release.

PETA has been giving out about 30 Compassionate Business Awards annually for at least a decade, Price told the Empire. Delta Air Lines Inc. received one of these awards earlier this year after it stopped allowing pets to be shipped in plane cargo holds.

“Whenever we see a business make any kind of decision that is kind to animals, we want to honor that,” Price said in a phone interview. “Gastineau Guiding has shown incredible sensitivity toward animals.”

Antoni, of Gastineau Guiding, said the company is “honored” to be recognized by PETA. That being said, tour boat captain Annette Smith and naturalist Audrey Benson were just doing what they always do when they encounter a distressed animal: “they try to help,” Antoni said.

Company crewmembers has also called the National Oceanic and Administration several times to report entangled whales. The deer rescue was a little more involved, however, and it offered an unusual training exercise.

Twice per season, Gastineau Guiding employees go through man-overboard training. They learn how to “lasso” people in the event that they fall into the water, according to Antoni.

“It was really interesting that all of a sudden it was a deer and they used those skills to bring it on board; it’s great to see that the training works,” she told the Empire.

Though the Gastineau Guiding staff is excited about the award, Antoni said that the tour guides are most excited about the vegan chocolates that PETA will be sending along with a certificate signed by President Newkirk.

“We’re honored to be recognized by PETA, no doubt,” Antoni said. “But I will tell you I’ve heard a lot about that vegan chocolate from the guides.”

• Contact reporter Sam DeGrave at 523-2279 or sam.degrave@juneauempire.com.