בראשית, פרק ל״ד, פסוק כ״ח

After the conquest of Shechem, Jacob's sons gathered the spoils of the city, carefully collecting the animals left behind. A clear distinction is made between the large, roaming herds and the individual animals kept within the city limits. The livestock found inside the city consisted of single animals owned by private individuals, as standard terms for flocks or herds do not apply to solitary creatures [העמק דבר].

When collecting these spoils, the brothers actively took ownership of the animals, treating them differently than the rest of the captured goods. While ordinary property was simply left ownerless for anyone to claim, the livestock required a more responsible approach. Domesticated animals depend entirely on human care for their food and survival, and abandoning them would have caused them to suffer and starve. Guided by the moral obligation to prevent animal suffering, Jacob's sons deliberately brought the creatures under their own protection to ensure their needs were met [העמק דבר].