Did animal rights groups praise this film?

As someone who loves both cats and dogs, I enjoyed this film and it was good that Cruella was overthrown in her plot to turn the puppies into fur coats.

Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Pete Townshend watch My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

PETA hates the fact that dogs and cats are pets, or are even referred to as "pets". I don't know if PETA existed yet in 1961, but rational animal rights groups would have certainly praised this movie.