The nation has a major problem with a burgeoning dog population and an increasing incidence of rabies.

One leading Chinese law maker has a solution to ensure responsible ownership - a canine tax.

And China needs a law to regulate dog ownership, said Jiang Deming, a deputy to the National People's Congress.

His comments came on the sidelines at the top legislature's annual session in Beijing.

Dog owners should pay tax to share the cost to city management caused by their pets, such as dung collecting, the law maker from eastern Jiangsu Province said. He has submitted a plan on enacting such a law.

The rising number of pet dogs has led to the increase in rabies in cities, and the revenue from the tax could be exclusively used for prevention of the disease and urban sanitation, said Jiang.

He admitted that his proposal will not be popular with dog owners.

The tax will discourage low-income people from raising dogs, he said.

Jiang also proposed a total ban on dangerous or large dogs in populous urban areas.