[wizofaus]

Yes, there's a distinction, but we obviously see non-human animals as being more similar to humans in terms our moral obligations than we do non-living matter, and generally the closer to being a human-like, the more we care about how we treat it. A baby chicken can literally bond to humans, follow us around, and interact with us in various ways. If that isn't enough to grant it as being deserving of ethical/humane treatment, I don't know what is.