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An Easter issue of decades past has been resurrected by the Florida legislature. In 1967, the state outlawed coloring animals to protect baby chickens and bunnies. Before the ban, pet stores would paint the animals in pastels for Easter sales. But once the color faded, the animals were often being abandoned. As Whitney Ray tells us, a bill lifting the ban is on the governor’s desk and animal lovers are outraged.

Do not adjust your TV set. These baby chicks really are blue, green, orange, purple, red and yellow. Albeit not naturally and not in Florida.

The only colorful chickens you’ll find here are these Peeps. It’s been illegal to dye animals in the sunshine state since the 1960s, but just in time for Easter a bill lifting the ban is on Governor Rick Scott’s desk.

And if he signs it, these Peeps could come to life. But so far more than 4-thousand people have emailed Scott calling for a veto. When asked about the bill Scott reminisced about chickens he briefly owned as a boy.

“My grandfather gave me some chickens and I think he came to his senses and took them back.” “He didn’t think they would probably last very long,” said Scott.

And that’s exactly what opponents fear. They say the bright colored animals will be irresistible to kids. But after the color fades so will their zeal to care for them.

Here at Carol’s Critters the bunnies aren’t for sale until after Easter to discourage irresponsible buyers.

“It’s not the same as having a stuffed bunny on their Easter basket or a chocolate bunny,” said Carol Hoover, the store’s owner.

The plan to lift the ban has nothing to do with Easter. It was hatched by a dog groomer who said the law kept people from entering their pets in dog shows.

“I don’t have a problem with it as long as it’s a food color dye that won’t hurt the animal,” said Carol.

Even if Scott signs the bill, the ban wouldn’t be lifted until July first, so for now, you can dye Easter eggs, but not the Easter bunny. The governor has until Saturday to decide what to do with the bill. He could sign it, veto it, or let it become law without his signature. And of course opponents want to see the bill dye.