Stuffed animal accidentally left behind at airport has many adventures before reunited with his boy

TAMPA -- The mother of a 6-year-old boy who lost his favorite stuffed animal "Hobbes" at the Tampa International Airport last week says she was moved to tears when she learned what airport employees had done for her son.

It began when the frantic mother called the airport to ask if they'd found "Hobbes," the orange and black stuffed animal her son left behind at the airport when the family was flying to Houston.

The janitorial crew was alerted, and found Hobbes in the children's play area of Airside C.

But instead of tucking him away for Owen and his mother to come get him, the airport staff decided to take Hobbes on an adventure.

FOX 13 in Tampa reports Airport Operations Center manager Tony D'Aiuto took selfies of the tiger at various places at the airport. Hobbes went to the air traffic control tower, went to get gelato, worked out at the employee gym, and even rode a luggage cart, among many other things.

When Owen and his mom came to pick up Hobbes, they were given a photo book showing them what Hobbes had been doing while he was away from his family.