No, because people can be respectful of animals while using the word “it”.

You’re asserting all this extra stuff that the word does not convey, because you’ve unconsciously decided that is the only way to use the word.

But as others are telling you, and is true, it is common in English to use “it” for animals. Despite what your lit teacher told you, that does not create disrespect for the animals. People have been caring for animals, people with hearts, people who don’t treat animals the way they would a book, while using the word “it”, for as long as the English language had existed.

That thing where you can’t have empathy for an “it”, that a rule in your head.