A lost stuffed animal that was recently found at a rest stop in eastern Iowa has found its way home, making one youngster in central Iowa a very happy boy.

"I didn't think Pup Pup would ever be back," Shon Downey, 40, of Ankeny, told the Register about his son's toy. "I thought he was gone forever."

The reunion ended an 11-day saga that put a spotlight on Iowa Nice and the kindness of strangers.

How Pup Pup went missing

Downey's 4-year-old son, John, and Pup Pup have been together since his birth. They're practically inseparable.

While driving to Cedar Rapids for a birthday party Sept. 30, Downey said everyone in his car needed to use the bathroom. So they pulled over at the next rest stop, along Interstate 80 near Williamsburg.

"When (John) got in there, apparently he had taken Pup Pup with him," Downey said.

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Once arriving at the party, John asked where Pup Pup was. Downey searched his car, friends' vehicles, bags — everything. But came up with nothing.

The worried father prayed on the way home and hoped Pup Pup didn't begin the trip with them. He tore apart his house from corner to corner. Still missing, and Downey thought, for good.

He didn't know what to tell his son regarding the whereabouts of his beloved friend.

But fortunately, as Downey put it: "It's a truly indescribable feeling" when a complete stranger goes above and beyond to make sure a child is reunited with his lost toy.

A woman's viral efforts of reconnection

Katie Hoeppner, 34, of Marion found Pup Pup hours later at the Williamsburg rest stop, where he was sitting near a bathroom sink.

For the handful of days they were together, she called Pup Pup "George."

Hoeppner crafted a Facebook post later that night detailing how she came across Pup Pup and how she decided to "rescue him." She asked for the public's help finding the toy's rightful owners. Hoeppner knew what it's like "losing your best friend" because her family had been in the same boat before.

"When you get it back, it's more tears and excitement to see it again," Hoeppner said.

Her post went viral in a hurry, accumulating more than 50,000 shares and thousands of comments from across the U.S.

"It's amazing how much support it's gotten," Hoeppner said.

Additionally, the mother of two included pictures highlighting Pup Pup's voyage with his new pals, like going through a car wash, drinking a Starbucks Frappuccino and enjoying cuddles before bed.

"My kids are up for my shenanigans," Hoeppner said, laughing. "This has been kind of an adventure for them."

'I didn't even have to ask'

Deborah Fox Grimes, John's teacher at 2 For U Childcare and Preschool in Ankeny, saw Hoeppner's post and the Register's story about the missing stuffed animal on her social media timelines.

She also watched a video created by Humankind — a USA TODAY NETWORK site that promotes feel-good stories and positive news — requesting the internet's assistance.

Grimes knew right away the viral stuffed animal was John's missing Pup Pup.

"I didn't even have to ask: John sleeps with it every day. He's with it all the time," Grimes said. "He is the sweetest, most adorable 4-year-old I've ever met."

She messaged Hoeppner and connected her with Downey. Hoeppner received dozens of messages from people claiming to be the owners, so she asked Downey if there were any significant markings visible on the toy.

"I told her that my mother had stitched him up near his neck," Downey said.

It was a match.

Hoeppner boxed up Pup Pup on Thursday and had it fast-shipped to Grimes' home in Huxley. It arrived Monday afternoon.

"My kids knew that he'll go home, and whoever he belonged to, we can look back and tell the story about what all 'George' did with us," Hoeppner said.

The reunion

Grimes surprised John with the special delivery Tuesday morning at daycare. John had just finished playing.

"We have something," Grimes said to John as she grabbed the box and handed it to him.

John's tiny fingers pried the package open in excitement. He grabbed his long lost Pup Pup and swung it joyously high in the air.

"Pup Pup!" John shouted.

He said he planned to sleep with Pup Pup later Tuesday during nap time.

"Thank you, Katie!" John said.

Yes, thank you, Katie. And thank you, Facebook.

"It's a wonderful feeling," Downey said. "My boy is excited about getting Pup Pup back.

"And that's really what matters."

Aaron Young is a reporter at The Des Moines Register, focusing on what Iowans are talking about on the internet and on social media. Follow @AaYoung15 on Twitter and on Facebook: Facebook.com/AaronYoung28.