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Boy's lost stuffed tiger goes on awesome airport adventure

<span id=fbPhotoSnowliftCaption class=fbPhotosPhotoCaption data-ft={&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}><span class=hasCaption>Just helping this guy deliver some luggage at the Marriott. Don't mind me.</span></span>
Just helping this guy deliver some luggage at the Marriott. Don't mind me.

"Just helping this guy deliver some luggage at the Marriott. Don't mind me."

For a young boy, there are few things more terrifying than losing your favorite stuffed animal. So when six year-old Owen Lake lost his toy tiger Hobbes in the Tampa, Fla. airport, he feared the worst. Little did he know Hobbes was about to embark on an amazing adventure, courtesy of airport staff.


<span id=fbPhotoSnowliftCaption class=fbPhotosPhotoCaption data-ft={&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}><span class=hasCaption>Broken toilet at Airside E? We're on it!</span></span>
Broken toilet at Airside E? We're on it!

"Broken toilet at Airside E? We're on it!"

Owen Lake and his family were en route to Houston, Texas for a realtive's graduation when Hobbes went missing. Hobbes wasn’t just any old stuffed toy; the tiger hand been handmade by Owen’s aunt.

:<span id=fbPhotoSnowliftCaption class=fbPhotosPhotoCaption data-ft={&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}><span class=hasCaption>Hope my fur is non-flammable! Guess we'll find out.</span></span>
:Hope my fur is non-flammable! Guess we'll find out.


"Hope my fur is non-flammable! Guess we'll find out."

Owen’s parents called Tampa International Airport’s Lost and Found department. Airport staff found Hobbes near a children’s play area, and decided to prepare a little treat for Owen while they waited for him to come back from vacation and reclaim his lost little buddy.

<span id=fbPhotoSnowliftCaption class=fbPhotosPhotoCaption data-ft={&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}><span class=hasCaption>Mmmm ... gelato at Carrabba's. Blood orange sounds pretty good.</span></span>
Mmmm ... gelato at Carrabba's. Blood orange sounds pretty good.


"Mmmm ... gelato at Carrabba's. Blood orange sounds pretty good."

Airport Operations Center Manager Tony D’Aiuto got help from all over the airport  - police, airlines, the military, security - and photographed Hobbes on his amazing adventure around the airport. The tiger got gelato, went to the gym, hung out by the pool at the adjacent Marriott hotel, and even played Jenga.


<span id=fbPhotoSnowliftCaption class=fbPhotosPhotoCaption data-ft={&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}><span class=hasCaption>Checking out the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. Looks like a storm's rolling in!</span></span>
Checking out the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. Looks like a storm's rolling in!


"Checking out the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. Looks like a storm's rolling in!"

Then, D’Aiuto put all the photos into a storybook and had it printed. He left the book, along with Hobbes, at Lost and Found. When Owen picked up Hobbes, he also had a book of Hobbes’ airport adventures.

<span id=fbPhotoSnowliftCaption class=fbPhotosPhotoCaption data-ft={&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}><span class=hasCaption>Owen returns for me and I get to show him what I've been up to for the last five days!</span></span>
Owen returns for me and I get to show him what I've been up to for the last five days!


"Owen returns for me and I get to show him what I've been up to for the last five days!"

"It was very, very sweet,” Amanda Lake said. “We already told him over and over that Hobbes was on an adventure so it was nice to get back and show him that Hobbes really had been on an adventure.”