Animals are not made in the image of God. Originally man had the same moral character as God. Then, he took on another nature.
The wages of sin is death.
So, sacrificing innocent animals not only provided meals for those hungry, they also provided a substitute for the death required by law for sinning. It was a vicarious death of the sinner that was enacted.
Likewise, Jesus died a substitute death for all those that would believe that his sacrifice would be sufficient on their behalf to be grafted back into God's family and receive the original moral character of God .