These animal lovers say keeping up with your pet's health is a big responsibility.

"Rabies is still the deadliest disease known to man," Michael Williams with the Wake County Animal Center said.

Michael Williams with the Wake County Animal Center said preventing rabies and controlling population could cost an arm and a leg.  Now, Wake County is looking to tax all the estimated ninety thousand pet owners to assure that care is provided to the animals.

"It would be a differential license which means it would cost more for animals that are not spade and neutered." Williams said.

But the Hope Hancock with the SPCA says the tax will deter lower income families, who she said are responsible for a majority of the animal overpopulation, from getting their pets the care they need.

The people were talking about are having to chose between getting their children to a pediatrician much less their dog to a vet," Hancock said.

Veterinarian Dr. Frank Ansede said the tax may be counterproductive.

"If there is one thing that will deter people from getting vet care or vaccinated, it's a tax," Ansede said.

Representatives from the Wake County Animal Center say the money will go toward helping lower income families but dog owner Paul Himes is still concerned.

Himes says he thinks over all the tax is a good idea but could be a problem for some pet owners.

"I do think people will hesitate to bring their pet to the vet because they're afraid they will be reported or charged when they don't want to pay," Himes said.

Although the tax is a worry for some, all the parties agree pet care is a priority and must be available to every person who owns an animal.

At this time, representatives from the county say a fee has not been decided on.  In recent proposals, the tax was $15 a year for fixed animals and $30 for those pets that were not spade and neutered.