45 Year Ban On Dyeing Chicks, Bunnies Ends With Scott's OK
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) - After 45 years, Florida residents once again have the legal right to dye bunnies and chickens bright neon colors to give children for Easter gifts, despite the fact the law change has been decried by animal rights advocates statewide.
The change in a law put in place in the '60s through the work of Dade county vet and legislator Dr. Elton Gissendanner was an addition to a larger agricultural bill signed into law Friday by Gov. Rick Scott.
Scott had been heavily lobbied not to sign the bill because it contained a change in the law to allow animals to be dyed, but he believed the other provisions of the bill were to important to veto it.
The provision allowing animals to be died was added by Broward representative Ellyn Bogdanoff at the request of a Broward county groomer who wanted to be able to dye highlights into the fur of dogs presented in dog shows.
The change to allow that had the effect, apparently ignored by legislators, of removing the chick and bunny dying ban.
Also eliminated by the change is a decades-old ban on the sale of baby bunnies, ducklings, and chicks.
In the past, the animals, dyed or not, were given to children as gifts and in many cases, abandoned when the children lost interest or abused by children who did not understand the care the animals needed.
The agriculture bill with the provision for dyeing animals takes effect July 1.
