I've read pretty frequently of people trespassing onto other people's land and even breaking into their homes and farm buildingsd to save endangered pets and livestock in the case of wildfires, flooding, etc. Even though "trespassing" and "breaking and entering" and so forth are usually illegal, these things are not prsecuted because of the value of the animal life; I don't think they would be prosecuted even if the owner appeared on the scene (in the midst of the flames!) and said, "Get your hands off those horses! Get off my property!"
Certaibnly if their intent was not to steal the animls in order to enrich themselves, they wouldn't be prosecuted, or at least they wouldn't be convicted, would they?