Disability Charity Runs Controversial Campaign

Enable Scotland, a Scottish organization for children and adults with learning disabilities, is running an advertising and fund-raising campaign that highlights the preference of many donors to give to groups that help animals rather than people, the BBC reports. The group says animal charities receive twice as much in funds as charities that help people with disabilities.

In its new campaign, the group features posters of adults with learning disabilities alongside captions such as, “If I ate out of a dog bowl would you like me more?” The posters will appear on buses and trains throughout Scotland over a six-week period.

Critics say the campaign could be counterproductive. “Charities strive to be innovative in their fund-raising methods, but there is a danger that by doing so, they could harm the work of another charity,” said Doreen Graham, an official with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.