Has PETA always been a joke?

I heard once they gave out free veggie burgers as a rally to change the town of Hamburg to veggieburg. Didn't work, but IMO it's a funny method nonetheless (probably the only peta rally I can ever smile about)

What, why would anyone think a name like that could cause a problem? Oh wait it's Peta

Yes, PETA has always been a joke; a very cruel joke actually.