In Photos: a Lost Toy Tiger Goes on an Incredible Airport Adventure

By Erika Owen
June 17, 2015
Courtesy of Tampa International Airport
Losing something at an airport almost never works out in your favor, unless you’re Owen Lake. The six-year-old recently left his stuffed tiger—named Hobbes after the iconic comic book character—at the Tampa International Airport. Owen misplaced his toy on the way to vacation in Houston with his parents. Once they realized the tiger was missing, Owen’s mother gave the airport a call and Hobbes was quickly located. Instead of setting the stuffed animal on a desk to wait for his family, Tony D’Auito—the airport’s operations manager—decided to take Hobbes on a vacation of his own.

When Owen and his family returned from their trip, they were greeted with a photo book featuring shots of Hobbes exploring the airport—checking out the control tower, contemplating the airport’s ice cream options, testing out the luggage trolleys at the airport hotel, and more. Cue collective “aw.”
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Hobbes taking in all of the airport's ice cream choices.

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Hobbes testing out the luggage trolleys at the Tampa Airport Marriott.

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Hobbes shadows a few airport employees.

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Hobbes checks out the airport's control tower.

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Hobbes learns about an airport firefighter's job.

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Hobbes takes a break for some gym time.

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Hobbes asks a few questions at the airport's info desk.

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Hobbes plays Jenga.

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Hobbes meets some of the Marriott's staff.

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Hobbes gets a close look at a Southwest plane from the tarmac.

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Hobbes' airport adventures were all put into a photo book.

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Hobbes and Owen are reunited, with a few photos depicting the stuffed animal's airport adventure.

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Owen takes a look at Hobbes' new photo book.

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