Learnt a lesson as a boy, I was loaned a red cock and a couple of weeks after i had him he got out over my head, i was mortified. The partnership that loaned him were good friends of my parents and i just didn't want to ring them and tell them but my parents refused to.
I sat shakeing while dialing there number and told them what had happened, they could probably smell my fear of telling them to be given the reply "its only a pigeon, it can be replaced!".
They were right, but if I hadn't have told them and the bird had been reported to them or even made it home what would they have said?
A few years ago i loaned a gifted bird from a very special old friend and while out on the loan the guy let it out and it was 6 months latter i found out what had happened when i was pairing up on paper to use her again the following year.
I supose its just down to honesty, but then again he was an ex copper ;D