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In the Nevada desert, he was a mystery. A lone dog running with coyotes, slipping in and out of sight like a shadow. Locals called him Ghost, enchanted by the sight of a white dog keeping pace with a wild pack. But to one Las Vegas family, he was never Ghost—he was Hades, their missing dog.
After months of sightings and one emotional rescue, Hades is finally home. The Animal Foundation confirmed the 4-year-old Bull Terrier mix is back with the Cabada family, following a whirlwind of heartbreak, confusion, and a custody dispute that drew in animal advocates and police.
The shelter spent days reviewing old photos, videos, and messages from the Cabadas—evidence that they’d been looking for Hades since he vanished. According to Kelsey Pizzi, a spokesperson for the Animal Foundation, it was clear they were telling the truth. “There was plenty of evidence this was their dog,” she said.
The reunion said it all. In a video shared by the shelter, Hades sees his family and instantly runs toward them. He jumps on the kids again and again, tail wagging, as tears pour down their cheeks. “It was a very emotional reunion,” said Pizzi. “He just kept leaping into everyone’s arms.”
But not everyone agreed with the outcome. The women who rescued him from the desert still insist he isn’t Hades at all. To them, he’s Ghost—the same name used by Henderson neighbors who followed his story for months. In a Facebook video, Carole Sandy from Amor Peludo Animal Rescue said, “We’re devastated… We’re not going to give up. We’re going to pursue this by any legal means possible.”
Ghost—or Hades—was first spotted running alongside three coyotes. Residents would post updates in a local Facebook group, mesmerized by this strange bond. He earned his nickname by disappearing whenever anyone got too close.
After someone noticed he was limping, Susan McMullen from the Southern Nevada Trapping Team stepped in. She and a partner safely captured him. At the time, he was in rough shape, scarred from bites, nursing a broken toe, and suffering from an infected scrotum. A GoFundMe campaign brought in over $14,000 to cover his medical care.
Then a local news story about the wild dog made headlines—and everything changed. The Cabada family was watching TV when they saw him. There was no doubt in their minds that this was Hades. Messages were exchanged, photos sent, but when they reached out to McMullen, she didn’t believe them.
Eventually, a tense confrontation brought police to McMullen’s home. Officers couldn’t determine who truly owned the dog, so Animal Protection stepped in and took him to the Animal Foundation.
Nine days later, after reviewing all the facts, the shelter ruled in favor of the Cabadas.
For Christy Cabada, the moment he recognized them brought an overwhelming sense of relief. “I had anxiety and a knot in my chest,” she said. “All of it went away when he recognized us. My heart felt full of love.”
That night, they gave Hades a Valentine’s treat and tucked him into his favorite fluffy bed. After everything, he was right where he belonged.
