Does greeting an animal cheapen the meaning of greeting a Tzelem Elokim when done in the same manner?
Why do you assume that a greeting is strictly because of Tzelem Elokim? I’m not greeting the animal with the Shem HaShem (such as if I were to say “Shalom Alichem…”)
I greet people because I think it brightens their day. Does it brighten the day of the cat or my hamster in the morning when I greet them? I don’t know… but I don’t think it hurts.
The Wolf