In the grand scheme of lost and found items, a small, purple corduroy rhinoceros backpack might seem insignificant. But for four-year-old Orly, the “well-loved” bag brings a world of comfort and security. So when ‘Rhino the Dino’ vanished into the bustling ecosystem of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a little girl’s heart was broken.
Earlier this month, Orly and her family flew from Carrboro, North Carolina, to Houston for a sun-kissed vacation in Galveston. As with many families traveling with young children, chaos is often the norm. Amidst the flurry of boarding, baggage claim and the juggling of strollers, Rhino the Dino was inadvertently left behind.
“I was flying alone with my 4 kids,” said Orly’s mother, Tracy Rose. “It does not surprise me at all that we left something behind.”
The missing backpack was a blow, particularly given the circumstances. "We figured it out it was missing when we unpacked the car that night in Galveston,” Rose recalled. “We were fairly confident we left it on the rental car shuttle.”
But sometimes, with a little bit of luck and a lot of heart, lost treasures find their way home.
Enter Ben Herr, General Manager of the IAH Rental Car Shuttle which is operated by Transdev. His team is the unsung heroes of airport logistics, transporting passengers between Bush Airport Terminals and the IAH Rental Car Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Herr’s team takes pride in making connections.
“Our drivers check the bus at the end of each run,” Herr explained. "If they find something, they turn it in to Lost and Found.” From there, a diligent process begins scanning luggage tags, contacting owners, and holding onto the forgotten items until they can be reunited with their rightful owners.
“We find everything from roller bags to cell phones,” Herr said. “During the Houston Rodeo, we find a lot of lost boots and hats.”
But it was Rhino the Dino who captured hearts. When Rose emailed Herr, he was determined to help. Through diligent searching and a touch of luck, the backpack was found. And when Orly was finally reunited with her beloved companion—a gift from her grandfather—the joy was palpable.
“Just wanted to say thanks again to you and your team for finding our backpack,” Rose said in an email to Herr. “You made a little girl very happy!”
A photo of Orly, beaming with delight as she clutched Rhino tightly, was shared with Herr. It’s a testament to the power of human kindness and the unexpected rewards of going the extra mile.
“I also distinctly remember that the driver of the rental car shuttle was also really awesome helping me to load and unload the stroller while I managed the luggage and the kids,” wrote Rose in an email to Herr. “You have a great team.”
In a world often dominated by headlines of chaos and inconvenience, the story of Rhino the Dino is a gentle reminder that even the smallest acts of care can make a big difference… and even in the fast-paced world of air travel, there’s always room for a little bit of magic.