Hollywood animal activist Casey Affleck papered the State House yesterday with letters that asked lawmakers to throw their support behind one of his pet causes, the Massachusetts Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act.

The Cambridge homey, vegan and major supporter of the Farm Sanctuary, ASPCA and MSPCA had his missive hand-delivered to the offices of every legislator, including Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo and Senate prez Therese Murray.

“I grew up in Cambridge, and like so many Massachusetts residents, pets were a part of my family,” wrote the “Gone Baby Gone” star. “Through them, I learned that animals have the capacity to feel pleasure, pain, fear and joy.

“Subsequently, I’ve come to understand that all animals have these capacities; it doesn’t matter whether the animal is a cat or a chicken or a pig,” said the actor, 37. “Yet for a long time our legal system has attempted to protect only pets from pain and suffering, not farm animals.”

The Farm Animal Protection Act, which has bipartisan support in the house and senate, calls for a ban on veal crates, gestation pens for pigs and overcrowded cooping up of hens.

“These systems are deeply unethical and should be banned,” said Affleck, who gave a shout-out to local companies Dunkin’ Donuts and Au Bon Pain for their commitment to buying meat from animals not raised in gestation crates.

GOP state Sen. Robert Hedlund and state Rep. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), who filed farm animal protection bills in the Senate and House, said Casey Affleck is preaching to the choir, but they welcome the actor’s support.

“I think it will get other legislators’ attention,” said Hedlund, who reminded us he’s such an animal hugger, he called for a ban on the use of bull hooks to train circus elephants a few years ago, and refuses to serve veal at his Weymouth Landing restaurant.

Lewis told the Track he’s happy to hear “another voice” on farm animal cruelty debate, a subject consumers have shown they can get behind by buying cage-free eggs and free range meats.

“There is a growing awareness by the general public about the abhorrent way farm animals are treated,” said the Winchester Dem. “Even the largest fast food chains have made changes to their suppliers. So I welcome the support of a local, well-respected actor who can rally Massachusetts legislators to the cause.”

File Under: Affleck’s Eggscellent Adventure

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