What Are B.A.R.C. Online Animal Cruelty Courses?

One can visit their website to see how it describes its classes: “powerful and comprehensive online course designed to inspire change in attitudes and actions towards animals in individuals who have mistreated them.” The primary goal of the class is “to instill empathy and compassion toward animals, thereby reducing the likelihood that those who have abused or neglected in the past will reoffend.” In other words, the course seeks to “inspire change through knowledge, inspire respect and understanding for animals,” noting that animals have feelings, too, and “provide an overview of animal cruelty laws.” In this last regard, the course is a nationwide course, so California laws are not the only laws presented.

The course is open to all adults and juveniles ages 15 to 17 and is available nationwide, twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week. One only needs a laptop PC or MAC. The computer must have a high-speed Internet connection (1Mbps or faster) for watching lectures and videos that are part of the course. The course cannot be taken through one’s phone or a tablet computer.

One must first apply to attend and if approved by the course, one should receive an e-mail that is labeled “Invitation to Attend.” The person then may enroll and take the course. The person then receives a proof of enrollment that he or she can show a judge or probation officer. Upon completion of the course, one similarly receives a Certificate of Completion with a photo of the person who took the course, captured from the course’s facial recognition software.

The course is intended for those referred by a judge or mental health professional. To ensure the person taking the course is the same person throughout, the program uses facial recognition software (eProktor) to verify the same person registering for the course is the person taking the course.

The course explains its curriculum as covering a wide variety of legal, moral, ethical, financial and practical day-to-day issues involving the humane treatment of animals. The class was designed by animal cruelty experts. The information taught is reinforced through a series of quizzes throughout the program and then in a final exam, which students must pass with a score of eighty percent. Each student is afforded three tries to pass the final exam.

For more information about animal cruelty and criminal liability arising from a pet’s conduct, please click on the following articles:

1. Criminal Liability for Animal Cruelty Was Vague Until Now
2. Pit Bull Owner Is Criminally Liable for His Dog’s Biting a Neighbor, Who Hit the Dog with a Cane to Protect His Labrador Retriever
3. What Charges Will I Face If My Dog Bites a Neighbor?