do we really respect animals?

lol...well i am willing to bet everyone reading this blog is nodding their head and muttering... "yes i do."

From Wikipedia
Respect denotes both a positive feeling of esteem for a person of other entity (such as a nation or a religion), and also specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Respect can be a specific feeling of regard for the actual qualities of the one respected (e.g., "I have great respect for her judgment"). It can also be conduct in accord with a specific ethic of respect. Rude conduct is usually considered to indicate a lack of respect, disrespect, where as actions that honor somebody or something indicate respect.

Specific ethics of respect are of fundamental importance to various cultures. Respect for tradition and legitimate authority is identified by Jonathan Haidt as one of five fundamental moral values shared to a greater or lesser degree by different societies and individuals.[1]

Respect should not be confused with tolerance, since tolerance doesn't necessarily imply any positive feeling, and is compatible with contempt, which is the opposite of respect.

so i am confused here.

i think i have a great deal of respect for animals..but do i? the last line throws me for a loop....cuz i am pretty damn tolerant of them too..living with more than a hundred every day of my life...i learned to be tolerant of other's lives.

and i know i am hugely disrespectful at times, like when i cheerfully (and lovingly) call them morons, idiot-sticks or doorknobs..so i can see that connection between tolerance and contempt when i read that particular sentence and apply it to my own life.
so if it is not quite that definition of respect, but much more than just simple tolerance i feel towards them...what is it?...what is the real "word" here that i am looking for?

i haven't a clue...do any of you???