I don't think there is a killer argument pardon the pun either way.
Initially humans in Eden were vegetarian after the fall of man the first innocent life was the sacrifice of animals to provide clothing to man.
After this point animals were allowed to be consumed for food.
The value is different in that we are created in the image of God for a purpose to serve or have communion with the creator, this is not the case with other forms of life on this planet.
There are some vegetarian who emulate the early humans in the church.
But I don't think one can say for certain that the soul of an animal is eternal and will or will not have a shot at heaven.
Probably the fact that the bibles focus is not answering that question directly leaves it up to the individual to deduce what he believes from the scripture.
Some notable scholars such as C S S Lewis had the view that animals do have a shot at heaven, while modern day scholars such as J P Moreland think that it is not the case. mind you J P has stated that even though it is his belief he also admits he can't provide a knockout case for it.
One thing to remember God become human in the form of Jesus to shed his life as the final sacrifice for the sins of man. This began first with the shedding of innocent blood of an animal in Eden to finally God providing the sacrifice. God choose to become man at a time that the most painful method of torture was invented and implemented on earth, that was the death on the crossbeam of crucifixion. This is the creator humbling himself by becoming man to pay off the debt of sin owed to God. This should show how important the soul of each man is to God for the sacrifice he made for his creation.
