Santa Barbara County Animal Services is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a person of interest connected to an active animal cruelty investigation.
Officials say the individual was last seen around 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, heading north in the 200 block of North E Street in Lompoc, accompanied by a tan, pug-type dog.
The dog appears to be a fawn/tan pug like dog with a black muzzle. It has not been located and its welfare is a priority, County Animal Services states.
The person is described as a Black male, approximately 20–50 years old, wearing a red beanie, blue T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. At this time, he is being sought strictly as a person of interest; no charges have been filed. Investigators are attempting to identify and speak with him as part of the ongoing inquiry.
According to Lompoc residents that live near where the incident took place, this man was seen on home security cameras picking up the dog and swinging it against a truck and fence. The video was posted to neighborhood watch websites where it was then forwarded to Animal Services.
Animal Services released a photo to assist the search, noting that sensitive material has been blurred and an enhanced image was provided alongside the original for reference.
The alert was posted on Animal Services’ social media pages and as of Feb. 20 the person has yet to be identified.
Anyone who recognizes the individual or has information about the dog’s whereabouts is asked to contact Animal Control Officer Hart at Chart@sbcphd.org. Anonymous tips may be made on our website at SBCAnimalServices.org under the “abuse/neglect” tab.
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Such a weird post. Is he carrying the dog by the neck? It seems showing the image would help motivate people to find and report him. Otherwise, how are we supposed to know that he just has the pug wearing a MAGA hat and all the TDS sufferers freaked out.
SMURF – what does this have to do with Trump/MAGA? Do you have any clue how absurd you sound whining about “TDS” when you yourself are the only one bringing up Trump here?
And what’s more, any time someone says “TDS” in response to any criticism of the current, sitting, actual president, they are effectively saying, “I’m too stupid to rebut/refute or respond in any way to people calling out actual facts.”
Now go cry about Obama and Biden some more while you mumble and spit out “lIBeRAlS hAvE tRUmP dERanGEmeNT sYNdRomE!”
Any time I post mild disagreement here, I get labeled “MAGAT”. I thought I would just join the fun.
I mean, it’s what you are, so…..
Now, you’re also an admitted troll. Way to win, chump.
Stop posting psycho cult stuff and you won’t be perceived as a psycho cult member. It’s not that complicated.
Plus, making a disgusting animal abuse instance about your politics is really wack.
bc you are?
Sac, it’s hilarious watching these guys attempt to rewrite reality. So if you disagree with Trump and think he’s batsh** crazy, you have TDS. If you disagree with the damage they are doing, you have TDS. If you think he’s an out of touch with reality and senile, you have TDS. If you think or say anything other than he’s great and amazing, you have TDS. Whatever. Hide behind words all you guys like….
we wouldn’t be surprised if he was MAGA. But as Sac asked, why even bring it up? You’re the only one doing that. A little weird, maybe put down the internet for a while and find some grass to touch
And exactly how does this comment and all of its numerous replies help to identify the person of interest in the posted photo or bring justice and hopefully some loving peace to the poor little pug dog that was seen being abused? The article was written in order to help that little abused dog who, for all anyone knows, could have died as a result of this man’s horrific actions and yet the comments so far have done nothing but obscure the article’s intent and dismiss the importance of holding abusers of animals accountable.