In my youth, at Easter time, at Woolworth’s (and other such places) you could buy chicks and baby rabbits who had been dyed spring colors. They were adorable in my child’s eyes but my parents thought it barbaric, and refused to buy them. These little creatures were not well treated and did not live long. I think this is what the law is referring to.
Oh, you’ve never heard of sarcasm? I was making pun about “colored”. You see, years ago in large areas of the country, “colored” meant that some people.... oh, nevermind, it really was kinda an obscure thing from the 50s. I doubt many people would have heard of it./