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…