Lost Leash in Kittery, Maine and the Heartbreaking Story Behind It – Can You Help?

A local pet tracker, known for her tireless work recovering lost dogs, is facing an unimaginable loss—and now she’s pleading for the return of one small but deeply meaningful item: her late dog Dante’s leash.

For years, this leash was more than just a tool for Lisa Nazarenko, the owner and founder of Lost Pet Tracking Dogs. It accompanied her on countless rescue missions, gently guiding lost pets to safety.

It’s been wrapped around frightened animals on their way to emergency vets, shelters, and back into the arms of grateful families. It holds the spirit and legacy of Dante, the beloved dog it once belonged to.

Recently, while tracking a missing pet in Kittery, Maine, the leash was left in a pack in a client’s truck bed briefly, with every intention of returning it. Tragically, one of her own K9 partners suffered a sudden fatal emergency shortly after, and another was already in decline.

In the wave of grief and devastation, communication lapsed. When she finally followed up, she was told the pack had been “given away.” Upon explaining the leash's significance, the call ended abruptly.

Now, she’s asking the community: if anyone was given a pack of tracking gear in or around Kittery that includes a red leash, please, return Dante’s leash. She’s offering to pay and asks only for that one item back. The rest can be kept. It may be worth $12, but to her, it’s priceless.

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Anyone who has owned a pet that they have lost can feel for Lisa's situation. If you have any info about the whereabouts of the pack and leash that belonged to Dante, reach out on the Lost Pet Tracking Dogs website.