FINAL LAB

Data set profile:

  • Who is credited as the creator and/or contributors of this data set? Who are they? Environmental Health Services
  • What are the sources of their data? Animal bite reports made to the City of Saint Louis Department of Health and its Animal Care and Control section.
  • Why did they create or compile it? Reporting allows the local public health authority to investigate whether the biting animal may have transmitted rabies to the bite victim.
  • How has it been used?  helps in determining the legal responsibilities of the parties involved and can be used as evidence in a court of law.  

Data set evaluation:

  • Take a look at the data itself. How have they structured it? What fields have they chosen? What effect might that have on how it can be used? 

The document is divided into different categories in which the following is described: Animal type, date canceled, date investigation done, datetime closed, datetime initiated, house number, neighborhood number, plain English name for problem code, projected completion date, problem code, request ID, X coordinate, status, street, ward. Apparently they have records from several years ago (2013-2024) and they update it every week which is incredible. The order in which you have this record will allow you to have an order and make the information clearer. The data is distributed in an Excel document which makes it easier to read.

  • Read the creators’ description of the data set. Have they described the choices they made in cleaning the data, and if so, how? What effect might those choices have on the data?

 Unfortunately, The Data set doesn’t show who the creators are and how they clean the data.

  • Consider the creators’ identities and goals in creating the data set. How might those things have shaped the data, either intentionally or inadvertently? 

The data set doesn’t give us information about the creator’s identities but we know that it comes from the Environmental Health Services of St. Louis. If the objective is to reduce the number of dog bites, then it makes sense because the data might include detailed circumstances of each incident, such as the time of day and the location. If the goal was supposed to be  more oriented towards understanding public health impacts, there might be more focus on the severity of injuries and the demographics of the victims, but I can’t see anything like that in the document. 

  • What would you use this data for?

 Honestly, I currently don’t think I need this information for anything in particular. However, I consider that if in the distant future I were to work as a defense attorney or anything related to public welfare, it could help me locate places where more help from the services of animal control agencies is needed. If I worked as a corporate attorney for an insurance company, this type of information would help me determine risk levels associated with insuring certain breeds of dogs or properties in particular areas.

  • How might this data help you understand the complex dynamics of MOBOT and its surrounding communities? 

I consider that my dataset has absolutely nothing to do with MOBOT, however the example of how the information is organized and the way in which it is being distributed could indicate how frequently and in what manner public spaces are being used by both visitors and local residents , including their pets. High occurrences of dog bites in areas around MOBOT could signal the need for improved safety measures, such as better signage, designated pet areas, or more strict enforcement of existing leash laws which are pretty interesting to me as a Mexican girl who lived many years there , I never heard of a leash law but it sounds like one of the most useful laws for this type of cases

Written Reflection on the Dog Bite Data Set from St. Louis

Data Set Profile:

Environmental Health Services has created a data set on dog bites in St. Louis, Missouri, using information from animal bite complaints submitted to the City of Saint Louis Department of Health, specifically from its Animal Care and Control division. It seemed like the main goal of gathering this information was to look into possible human-to-animal rabies transmission. The emphasis is important since it influences the data’s utility and gathering, which are mostly utilized to establish legal obligations and present evidence in court.

Data Set Evaluation:

Evaluation of the Data Set: The data set is organized in fields that include information about the type of animal, investigation-related dates, location details (street, neighborhood, and house number), and the status of each case. The precise location. and temporal analysis of incidents is made possible by this design, especially with the addition of individual date and location elements. Choosing to make the data available in an Excel file helps accessibility and usability, making analysis and interpretation easier.  However, there is a lack of full details regarding the data cleaning methods, which might have an impact on the accuracy and reliability of the studies done with this dataset.

Reflection on Creators’ Identity and Goals:

  The creators, who are connected to Environmental Health Services, appear to be most worried about the effects on public health, specifically the spread of rabies. However, the data set lacks specific focus on the severity of injuries or demographics of the victims, which would have provided a fuller picture of the public health impact. The lack of this data may indicate a limitation on the way the information was collected or an intention to give the study of rabies transmission priority over other aspects of dog bite cases.

Potential Uses of the Data: 

I could not currently use this information directly, but it might be useful in the future for positions in the legal or public welfare sectors, such as corporate or defense attorney for an insurance business. For example, identifying dog bite hotspots may help determine whether regions require more aggressive animal control measures or may help insurance companies determine how risky a given property or breed of dog is to insure.

Relation to MOBOT and Its Surrounding Communities: 

MOBOT may not seem to have much to do with the dog bite statistics but there is some interest in terms of understanding how people use public places and potential safety precautions. High rates of dog attacks nearby may point to the need for upgraded MOBOT safety procedures, like enhanced signage and pet-friendly zones, which are important for boosting visitor experience and security.

Personal Reflection:

Since I’m originally from Mexico, where leash laws may not be as common, using this data set to observe the effects and implementation of such laws in St. Louis provides a fascinating look into various cultural perspectives on how to handle human-animal interactions in public areas. In addition to improving my knowledge of public health measurements, this reflection emphasizes the importance of localized data in creating community-specific regulations and procedures.