Whether a pet has been lost for one day or three weeks makes no difference.
Stray animals are scared or confused by their strange surroundings.
They are hungry and constantly looking for food. They run the risk of being hit by cars, taunted or hurt by cruel people, or coming into contact with rabid animals. They may not be vaccinated against rabies either. And if they have the disease, they could bite another neighborhood animal or unsuspecting child and pass it along. Remember the description and location of the stray animal.