4/4/2010:
When Superintendent Ritchey of the Minot park system dyed a few rabbits and chicks for Easter, he thought it would amuse the youngsters. But then people wanted to buy the animals to give as gifts, and the simple dye job became recurrent, and more complex.
The chicks weren't really a problem; injecting dye into the eggs colored their feathers before they were hatched. However, dying the rabbits was a little more difficult; Ritchey said they had to hang them up to dry, because otherwise, the rabbits ran, and the color ran, and then the whole zoo turned colors.
In 1953, this date was the day before Easter, and these dyed animals were on their way to add color to some young lives.
Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker
Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3615191.stm
http://pet-birds.suite101.com/article.cfm/giving_a_chick_at_easter
The Ward County Independent, March 26, 1953, p.1