Lambie Found: Lost Stuffed Animal is Back Home

ALGONQUIN, IL — One suburban girl is thrilled to have her beloved stuffed animal back in her arms. And her mother says the tens of thousands of people who were keeping an eye out for the lost little "Lambie" are to thank for it being returned to their Algonquin home Wednesday.

It all started when Mary Holzkopf of Huntley shared a photo and information about her young daughter's lost stuffed animal on Tuesday on a community Facebook page, stating that the young girl was "heartbroken and just wants her best friend back." The stuffed animal went missing somewhere between 4-year-old Brailee Rae's preschool — it was teddy bear day at school but she brought Lambie — and various nearby stores where the family ran errands.

After Holzkopf shared her post, the Algonquin Police Department posted information about Lambie on its Facebook page.

"Not our usual kind of post but a little girl needs your help," the police department wrote in its post late Tuesday.

From there, news about the lost stuffed animal spread quickly.

On Wednesday evening, Holzkopf and her family returned home to find Lambie waiting for them in their driveway. The mom captured the happy moment when Brailee scooped up Lambie and ran for the front door on video.

"What do you say to everyone who helped look for him?" Holzkopf asked.

"THANK YOU" Brailee shouted enthusiastically.

The kind person who returned the stuffed animal wishes to remain anonymous, Holzkopf said. He or she also didn't want to say where they found Lambie.

"All I can say is that they are reunited, and she is one very happy girl," Holzkopf told Patch. "I've just been telling people that Little Lambie's adventures that night will forever be stuck behind his sewn lips, but all that matters is he is home."

Holzkopf estimates the lost Lambie Facebook posts reached tens of thousands of people.

"It's been so heart-warming and embarrassing all rolled into one," she said.

After the Algonquin Police Department shared information about the lost stuffed animal, some suggested "putting together a search party" or chipping in to cover the costs of a replacement lamb if the original was not found.

Many more shared similar stories regarding the heartache their children experienced after losing a beloved stuffed animal.

"I think that's why it spread so far. Every parent can relate to the sheer heart ache of a kid losing their best friend," Holzkopf said. "They have their whole lives to learn about sadness and loss. They sure don't need to learn that lesson at 4."