Referring Agencies

Animal Abuse Prevention Course Overview

Benchmark Animal Rehabilitative Curriculum (B.A.R.C.) is a unique online animal abuse prevention course designed to educate and rehabilitate individuals who have in some way mistreated animals. The B.A.R.C. course is appropriate for adults and juveniles (aged 15-17). The course is open only to individuals who have been referred by the following referring agencies: a member of the criminal justice system (judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, or probation officer); an animal control professional; a social services agency; an educational institution (e.g., teachers and school counselors); or a mental health professional.* B.A.R.C. uses eProktor, an advanced facial recognition technology, to authenticate student identity and ensure that the individual referred to the course is the same person taking it.  B.A.R.C. was developed, and is administered by, a non-profit animal abuse prevention organization.

Learn more below about Course Features, Why B.A.R.C., Student Eligibility Requirements, and Course Goals.

Course Features
  • STUDENT AUTHENTICATION WITH FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY:

    Through the use of facial recognition technology, referring agencies can feel confident that the individual they referred to the animal abuse prevention course is the same person actually taking it. B.A.R.C. employs eProktor, an advanced facial recognition technology that uses webcams to automatically authenticate students every time they log in to the course or take a quiz or the final exam. By randomly authenticating students throughout every session, the technology also continuously monitors ongoing participation to ensure that students complete and participate in the entire course. To learn more about this facial recognition technology, watch the eProktor video.

  • DESIGNED BY ANIMAL CRUELTY LEGAL EXPERTS:

    The comprehensive B.A.R.C. curriculum was developed by recognized experts in the areas of animal cruelty prosecution, animal law, animal abuse prevention, humane education, teaching and training, psychology, research, and writing. To learn more about these experts, visit The B.A.R.C. Team page.

  • COVERS A BROAD RANGE OF ANIMAL ABUSE PREVENTION ISSUES:

    Educates students on a wide variety of topics designed to inspire a positive change in attitudes and actions that impact the welfare of animals. For a list of subjects covered in the curriculum, see the Course Topics page.

  • 24/7 ACCESS:

    The B.A.R.C. course is taken completely online, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Students may work at their own pace and their progress will be saved.  

  • QUIZZES AND FINAL EXAM:

    Information acquired by B.A.R.C. students is reinforced through a series of quizzes that are given throughout the course. Students must pass each quiz in order to advance to the next course section. Students are also required to pass a final examination with an 80% grade in order to receive credit for taking the course. If students do not pass the final exam after 3 attempts, they must retake and successfully complete the entire animal abuse prevention course before they will be given another opportunity to retake and pass the final exam.

  • PROOF OF ENROLLMENT, PROGRESS, AND COMPLETION:

    After successfully enrolling in the B.A.R.C. animal abuse prevention course, students will be sent an email that will serve as proof of enrollment that can be shared with referring agencies. Students will also be able to download Progress Reports throughout the course to demonstrate how much of the course they have completed. Upon completion of the course and passing the final exam, students will be able to download a Certificate of Completion to show that they have successfully completed the course. The Progress Reports and Certificate of Completion will include a photo of the student captured by the facial recognition program to confirm that the person referred to the course is the one who participated in and completed the entire course.

  • TECHNICAL SUPPORT:

    Students will have access to technical support via phone or email, Monday-Friday, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST (excluding all bank recognized holidays). Requests for support received during non-business hours will receive a response within 8 hours the next business day.

Why B.A.R.C. for Referring Agencies?
  • COMPLIANCE WITH STATE ANIMAL CRUELTY STATUTES:

    B.A.R.C. fills a vital need by providing referring agencies with an educational program that satisfies mandatory and permissive treatment, prevention, and/or educational animal abuse prevention courses required under many state animal cruelty statutes. Click HERE to see if your state has a relevant statute. Click HERE to see the full text of those relevant state statutes. B.A.R.C. is intended for educational purposes only. The B.A.R.C. course is not, and should not be construed in any way to be, a replacement or a substitute for qualified medical, psychiatric or psychological advice, or diagnosis, treatment, or therapy by a licensed professional.

  • EDUCATION INFLUENCES BEHAVIOR:

    Even if not required by law, the B.A.R.C. course is ideal for any adult or juvenile who has demonstrated a propensity for intentionally harming animals or shown a lack of regard for animals’ needs or feelings. By educating students about why certain behaviors toward animals may be cruel (and teaching them more appropriate ways to treat them), the B.A.R.C. course helps students develop empathy for animals, making it less likely that they will mistreat animals in the future. 

  • REHABILITATION/SENTENCING TERM:

    The course can be used in various circumstances, including as part of: a pre- or post-conviction diversionary plan, in lieu of a criminal filing, to satisfy a condition of a post-conviction probationary term, as a condition of a negotiated case settlement, or as a component of a juvenile intervention plan.

  • ANIMAL CONTROL PLAN:

    B.A.R.C. can be an effective component of a plan set forth by animal control to educate people who have harmed or neglected animals due to a lack of awareness that their actions were inhumane or cruel.  By educating those who own animals about what is required of them, B.A.R.C. is designed to have a positive impact on their future behavior. 

Student Eligibility Requirements
  • STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS:

    The B.A.R.C. animal abuse prevention course is open to adults and juveniles age 15-17 who have been referred by approved referring agencies, including members of the criminal justice system, animal control professionals, social services agencies, educational institutions (e.g., teachers and school counselors), or mental health professionals.

  • APPROVED REFERRAL:

    An individual cannot enroll in the course until a referring agency has submitted a fully completed referral form and B.A.R.C. has approved the referral. If approved, the referred individual will be notified by email within 2 business days of receipt of the completed referral form. The notification email will also contain enrollment instructions. If not approved, the referring agency contact will be notified by email within 2 business days of receipt of the completed referral form. 

  • EMAIL ADDRESS:

    Only individuals who have a valid and working email address, and access to that email, can be referred to and enroll in the course. The email address must remain activated until the course is completed. All written communications with students will occur via email.

  • GENERAL COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS:

    To enroll and log in to the course, students will need a desktop or laptop PC or MAC computer; the course cannot be taken with a phone or tablet. The computer must have a high speed Internet connection (1Mbps or higher). The latest version of Google Chrome Browser must always be used to enroll and log in to the course.

  • WEBCAM:

    This course is monitored at all times by facial recognition technology. Students will only be able to log in and take the course from a computer with a 4-megapixel or better webcam. Students will have the option of purchasing a webcam during enrollment. Upon initial log in, the program will create the student’s online digital ID through an array of photo captures. The program will authenticate the student’s identity throughout the course by comparing photos of the person taking the course to the student’s online digital ID. Students are regularly authenticated throughout each time they log on to ensure that the person going through the course during each session is the same person who was referred to the course. To learn more about the facial recognition technology and authentication, watch the eProktor video.

  • FEE:

    The fee for the course is $199 per person. Students must pay the fee in its entirety at the time they enroll. Students will have the option of paying with a debit card, credit card, or PayPal account. Students must complete the course within 6 months of enrollment. If needed, students may apply for a 2-month extension for an additional $75.

  • CONSENT TO RELEASE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION:

    Upon enrollment, each student must consent and agree to the release of verbal and written communication between B.A.R.C. and the referring agency, so that B.A.R.C. can share information regarding, but not limited to, the student’s enrollment, progress, authentication results, and successful or unsuccessful completion of the course.

Animal Abuse Prevention Course Goals
  • INSPIRE RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING FOR ANIMALS:

    Inspire respect, understanding, and compassion for animals in those who have mistreated them, to prevent similar behavior in the future.

  • PROVIDE OVERVIEW OF ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS:

    Provide students with a broad overview of animal cruelty statutes, society’s expectations regarding the treatment of animals, and potential legal consequences of mistreating animals.

  • DETAIL PET OWNERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

    Educate students on the legal, moral, financial, and practical day-to-day commitments associated with owning animals.

  • DEMONSTRATE ANIMALS’ CAPACITY FOR EXPERIENCING EMOTIONS:

    Instill in students an understanding that all species of animals are capable of experiencing emotions, as well as physical and psychological pain.

  • INCREASE EMPATHY FOR ANIMALS:

    Cultivate empathy for animals of all species by leading students to view things from the animals’ point of view.


*Note: B.A.R.C. is intended for educational purposes only. The B.A.R.C. course is not, and should not be construed in any way to be, a replacement or a substitute for qualified medical, psychiatric or psychological advice, or diagnosis, treatment, or therapy by a licensed professional.