ReadMe for Population Dynamics of Owned, Free-Roaming Dogs: Implications for Rabies Control, Conan, Anne, Akerele, Oluyemisi, Simpson, Greg, Reininghaus, Bjorn, van Rooyen, Jacques, Knobel, Darryn This ReadMe file describes the data accompanying the above publication. For any further queries please contact Darryn Knobel dknobel@rossvet.edu.kn Summary: This dataset presents data from a Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Dogs (HDSS-Dogs) in Hluvukani settlement in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, from 1st January 2012 through 1st January 2014. Each row represents one residence episode for a dog in a household or ÔstandÕ (a plot or parcel of land). Residence episodes within households begin with birth or in-migration (e.g. purchase or receipt of a dog), and terminate with death or out-migration (e.g. sale or gifting of dog to another household). Data collected are all owner-reported, collected by the study team during regular, repeat visits every 4-6 months (ÔroundsÕ) to all households in the demographic surveillance area. Variables: dog_id: Unique identification code for the dog stand: Unique identification number of the stand where the dog lived (anonymised, derived from municipal stand number) round_no: Round when the dog was enrolled in the dataset dog_breed: Breed of the dog (1: Indigenous breed; 2: Pure breed (exotic); 3: Mixed breed; 88: Unknown) dog_sex: Sex of the dog (1: Female; 2: Male; 88: Unknown) dog_ster: Sterilisation status of the dog at enrolment (1: Yes; 0: No; 88: Unknown) enrol_parity: Parity of female dogs at enrolment (88: Unknown; blank: Not Applicable) date_birth: Date of birth of the dog (Month/Day/Year; Blank: Unknown) range_birth: Accuracy of the date of birth (in days; Blank: Unknown) date_entry: Date of entry: Date when the dog arrived in the stand or Date of enrolment at Round 1 (Month/Day/Year) range_entry: Accuracy of the date of entry (in days) entry_event: Event of the dog entry to the stand (1: Born to bitch in the property; 2: Found/adopted; 3: Purchased; 4: Exchanged; 5: Received as a gift; 6: Moved in together with owner; 88: Unknown) origin_hluvu: Did the dog come from another stand in Hluvukani? (1: Yes; 0: No; 88: Unknown; NA: Not Applicable) origin_other: Village where the dog came from (if not Hluvukani; 88: unknown; NA: Not Applicable) purchase_price: Price paid if the dog was purchased (in South African Rand; 8888: Unknown; NA: Not Applicable) date_exit: Date of exit: Date when the dog left the stand (Month/Day/Year; NA: Not Applicable: the dog is still present in the stand) range_exit: Accuracy of the date of exit (in days; NA: Not Applicable) exit_event: Event of the dogÕs exit from the stand (1: Died; 2: Lost/disappeared; 3: Abandoned/disowned; 4: Stolen; 5: Sold; 6: Exchanged; 7: Given as a gift; 8: Moved with Owner; 88: Unknown; NA: Not Applicable) exit_death: Owner-reported cause of death if the dog died (1: Died of disease/parasites; 2: Died in accident; 3: Died of starvation; 4: Killed by owner; 5: Killed by authorities; 6: Killed by someone else; 7: Died from another cause; 88: Unknown; NA: Not Applicable) exit_death_other: Description of death if died from another cause (88: Unknown; NA: Not Applicable) exit_hluvu: Did the dog exit to another stand in Hluvukani? (1: Yes; 0: No; 88: Unknown; NA: Not Applicable) exit_place_other: Village where the dog went if not Hluvukani (88: Unknown; NA: Not Applicable) selling_price: Price of the dog if it was sold (8888: Unknown; NA: Not Applicable) date_vacci: Date of vaccination against rabies (Month/Day/Year; Blank: never vaccinated) end_vacci: Date of end of immunity against rabies (if immunity last 3 years) (Month/Day/Year; Blank: never vaccinated)