The question boils down to empathy. Do we care? Several people here have written that we don't need proof that animals feel pain. If we care about them, we will avoid things which may cause them pain, if possible. 

There have been numerous studies which show that people empathize more with "in groups" than with "out groups."  I would do anything to protect myself, my family, my neighbors, etc. My empathy extends to some limit (the out group)— which will vary with each person. 

Some people want to avoid harming any living creature, some regard a certain amount of harm as inevitable. How much harm and to whom is the main question. This then becomes a legal as well as a moral issue.

"We carnivores do at least kill our prey before eating it, whereas the vegetarians think nothing of plunging their teeth into a living apple."— Borst, P. L. (2019) Ethical Beekeeping. American Bee Journal (May issue)

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