There are Pals based on dogs that can be killed in various ways, which they're optional, but while fighting them, they can be caught to receive their drops as well.
There are dragon element Pals that can be killed in various ways, which most of them are optional, but while fighting them, they can be caught to receive their drops as well.
Not that I know of but the slavery in the game resembles real slavery in some ways, including the first workplace you can unlock for your Pals/slaves being a plantation.
Church ruins can be visited and used as fast travel points. There are worship statues in the game, including at the aforementioned churches. Sacrifices can be made with Lifmunk Effigies and Pal souls can be sacrificed to upgrade your Pals.
The entire game is about animal abuse and animals dying. The animals look like Pokemon and their deaths are minimally depicted but animal abuse is pretty much the whole point.
There are Pals based on cats that can be killed in various ways, which they're optional, but while fighting them, they can be caught to receive their drops as well.