When Mary Schwab's much-loved and greatly admired cat, Bugsby, was found in Upperville, a cheer went up, lost posters came down and a $1,000 reward was sent to needy children courtesy of a fine, upstanding Wakefield first grader.

Although it took weeks and many heart-breaking search parties before the 25-pound kitty was safely at home, his return was the perfect conclusion to the welcome Stoneleigh Farm had given three championship riders.

"The day before we found Bugsby, Tracy Weiberg had won the High Amateur Classic, Joe Fargis had won the Grand Prix and Juan Carlos Guardino won a 2007 Mercedes in the raffle at Beacon Hill. We all agreed that if we could only find Bugsby, it would have been a perfect day," remembered Mary Schwab.

The lesson learned from the frightening experience is simple. "People were so kind to us. I now realize how truly caring people are," Mary said. "We posted reward flyers all over two counties, and my trainer even asked his pizza shop to put them in the pizza boxes. The response was amazing. People called me from everywhere to say how sorry they were, that they were on the lookout for Bugsy and how much they empathized with us."

The kitty in question, a white short hair with elegant gray patches and distinguished black stripes, was rescued from Middleburg Humane when he was about seven months old. A substantial fellow in many ways, he had become a highly valued member of the family and the search for him was a true community effort.

"He had already had a difficult life," explained Mary. "He had probably been thrown from a car as a kitten because he had just recuperated from a broken pelvis when I brought him home. Today, he's happy and bright, but he does have a very bad habit of getting in cars."

Although one may never be certain, that may be how Bugsby traveled to Upperville, where he was found. What is absolutely known, is that the young man who found and cared for him until his parents realized there was a county-wide search underway, refused the $1,000 reward asking only that the money go to help needy children.

"When I told his parents there was a reward, they said they were teaching him that one doesn't expect rewards for doing the right thing. I wrote and sent the check right away," Mary concluded.

Successful parenting is, as everyone knows, its own reward.

Today, two new signs have been posted at Stoneleigh Farm: As you enter, you pass a sign that says: "Cats Will Stow Away in Vehicles!" As you depart, another sign gently reminds, "Did You Check for Cats?"