Game Of Thrones star Peter Dinklage is taking a stand against cruelty on factory farms by becoming a spokesperson for an animal sanctuary.

The actor, a vegetarian since he was 16 years old, has pledged his support to the Farm Sanctuary, a rescue center for abused livestock.

In his first task as ambassador, Dinklage will help host the Walk For Animals event to raise awareness of the problem.

He says, "I love animals and the way they are treated on factory farms is not OK with me. Numerous studies have shown that cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and other farm animals possess the same intelligence and capacity for fear, pain, and joy as dogs and cats, yet the meat industry uses expensive ad campaigns and clever marketing to hide the reality that animals used for food are treated like unfeeling machinery."

"Fortunately, we can think for ourselves and challenge the status quo by making choices that don't hurt animals."

The Walks are scheduled to take place in more than 35 cities in North America in the autumn.