One should protect living beings from suffering, as evidenced by the angel rebuking Balaam for striking his she-ass.
But consider this ruling: if one has a choice whether to unload his friend's animal, which is suffering under a load or to load his enemy's – he should load his enemy's in order to subdue his own evil inclination. What about the animal suffering? - Subduing one's evil inclination is more important.
Retrieving his lost article takes precedence over the lost article of his father or his teacher. A lost article of his teacher takes precedence over that of his father unless his father is also a Sage.
Art: Balaam by Rembrandt
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