Search for owners of tie-dye bear, cat left at Hagerstown airport tugs at heartstrings

My younger daughter is particularly attached to her stuffed animals, whom she refers to as her "friends."

She sleeps next to them, arranged just so around her head on the pillow, so they can keep watch.

She will sometimes put a few of them into a backpack to take with her to events or activities. They don't leave the backpack, mind you, but she leaves the top unzipped a little so they can peek out and see what she's up to.

So when I saw that the good folks at Hagerstown Regional Airport were trying to reunite two stuffed animals — a tie-dye bear and a cat — with their rightful owners, I empathized.

Get the full story: Lost stuffed animals at Hagerstown Regional Airport lead to social media campaign

Oh, the airplanes I would have to travel on should my daughter lose one of her friends!

The airport staff, which found the bears July 10, started off with a post four days later on Facebook featuring the bear, which is sporting a shirt that reads "I love Florida," and the cat sitting on a chair in the airport terminal.

The post reads:

Attention, travelers! We have two lost and lonely stuffed animals at our airport who are desperately searching for their human companion!

These cuddly friends were discovered all alone at HGR. We believe someone's heart is missing their lovable bear and kitten, and we're determined to bring them back together.

The post had more than 1,300 shares as of Wednesday. I admit, I was one of them, as were several other people I know.

Still having no luck, the airport staff took a page from the teddy bear sleepover playbook. If you're not familiar, a group or organization — I've mostly seen it done at libraries — invites children to come in with their favorite stuffed animal, listen to a story, then leave their animal overnight so it can have a sleepover.

Then the organizers put the teddies and dollies in different poses and places and take photos to show the kids when they pick up their friends the next day. Sometimes the stuffed animals are roasting marshmallows over a fake fire, or hunting LEDs that are made to look like lightning bugs.

At Hagerstown Regional Airport, the bear and cat were treated to chats with airport Director Neil Doran and Operations/Security Manager Gene Bolanowski. The animals also visited the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Station, the airfield maintenance team, and even the Rider Jet Center where they got lunch at The Grille at Runways.

Of course, the description, posted Tuesday, also gave airport staff a chance to show off what's available at the airfield north of Hagerstown.

Some people already know, though. Because of the bear's shirt, it's likely the owner might have come to Hagerstown from the Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida. Allegiant Air flies to Sanford and St. Petersburg/Clearwater in Florida, plus Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The airport staff would be quick to note the short lines, free parking and affordable prices. The only complaint that I've ever heard is that they have flights only Thursday through Monday. Admittedly, that's probably when there's the biggest demand, but people I know flying to or from Florida have always ended up having to go in the middle of the week.

Word on the street is that there are some changes — good changes — coming to the airport in the weeks and months ahead. In fact, we reported about a month ago that airport officials are working on a strategic plan for the facility, and hope at some point to add to its commercial flight offerings.

Anyway, as of this writing Thursday, no one had claimed the duo. If you or someone you know is missing the stuffed tie-dye bear and small cat, you can claim them at the airport on Showalter Road or by calling 240-313-2777.

And if the animals aren't reunited with their owner, the airport staff plans to donate them to a local shelter in need of some fluffy friends.

Joseph Deinlein is the executive editor of The Herald-Mail. Email him at jdeinlein@herald-mail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hunt for stuffed-animal owners gives airport chance to show off