KING Charles has presented a Buckinghamshire animal rights advocate with honours at Windsor Castle investiture. 

Anthony Martin, 83, was presented with his Commander of the British Empire medal (CBE) by the King at Windsor Castle on February 14.

The honour came 21 years after Mr Martin, also a successful recruitment business owner, set up the Anthony V Martin Foundation after witnessing the state of animal welfare in Barbados. 

The Wendover resident said: “They were killing 9,000 dogs in Barbados, putting them in gas oven by using an old Volkswagen engine, throwing the dogs in, shutting the door and gassing them to death.”

“That was what triggered it all off.”

He helped to set up a neutering campaign around the island, neutering stray dogs and offering it to people who couldn’t afford to have their dog neutered.

In the end, the campaign managed to get rid of the gas chambers, he said.

Currently the foundation’s main project focuses on use of dog meat as food in “the largest country in Asia”, who Mr Martin didn’t want to publicly name as the topic is “politically sensitive”.

“They publish a list of foods for their population, and on it used to be dogs and cats.

“We managed to persuade the government to take it off the list. It took quite a long time, but it’s now been taken off the list.

“Millions of dogs and cats have been saved already.”

The investiture gave the Essex-born businessman who spend years living in Hollywood a chance to discuss animal welfare issues directly with the King.

“Not so many people get to drive up the Long Walk, instead of walking.

“I had quite a long chat with King Charles.

“Everybody wants to know what we discussed, but I won’t tell” he laughed.

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The pair spend quite a long time talking about “animal welfare", including the ban on eating dogs. 

King Charles also asked if they were planning to take the dog project to Korea and Vietnam.

To him, the King seemed “quite concerned” about animal welfare.

The honours will help the Foundation to “justify what we’re doing, maybe it brings a little attention to it as well.”

Now the Foundation has joined the fight to get trophy hunting banned in the UK with the introduction of Hunting Trophies Bill, which is currently waiting its third reading in the House of Commons.

One of the biggest animal welfare issues in Britain came after the coronavirus pandemic pet boom.

After returning to work, many people suddenly realised they can no longer look after a dog or cat, taking them to overburdened sanctuaries trying to feed them.

“That costs a lot, and they are short of funds,” Mr Martin added.