A state bill would ban a form of pet leasing that sees the animals used as collateral.

Some pet shops are now using lease contracts to finance dogs. Some of the dogs can get pricey, often fetching more than $1,000 each.

"They shouldn't lease dogs," says Hicksville’s Dominaka Mroz, who hadn’t heard of the practice before. "They're creatures. They feel."

News 12 has learned that Shake A Paw, a pet shop with locations in Hicksville and Lynbrook, provides financing through a company called Pay Tomorrow. But in reality, people are only leasing the dog at first, with the option to buy later on.

And just like any other lease, the product -- in this case, a living, breathing animal -- could be repossessed.

"To me, it really sounds something like a scam," says David Ceely, executive director of Little Shelter in Huntington.

The leasing of animals is currently legal, which is why Bobby D'Elia of Plainview says he has no problem with it.

News 12 tried speaking with someone inside the Shake A Paw in Hicksville but was told the owner was not available. Employees refused to discuss their financing program.