Wolf,
I do not see where I assume that a greeting is strictly for a Tzelem Elokim. Reread what was written, it says nowhere near such a thing.
I was wondering about greeting an animal and a Tzelem Elokim in the same manner.
I doubt you would greet the President in the same manner that you greet a person in shul. You would not say hi in an offhanded manner to him. Intrinsic in a greeting is it being respectful and appropriate to who is being greeted.
Greeting your neighbor as you would a dog, appears not to be respectful. (except that you are a Wolf)
Is there not more to a greeting than just saying a few nice words by rote, with no real meaning behind what is being said?