The hounds will only get shot because the hunters don't seem interested in continuing to ride to hounds, but doing it without a fox being killed kill at the end. Drag hunts need hounds just as much as fox-hunts do. It seems to me that the hunting fraternity seem to be using the hounds as a kind of hostage - "do what I say or the hound gets it"

As for town foxes, we've got good few of them in Harlow, and they are no problem. My impression is that when people find a fox is frequenting their garden they are generally pleased and flattered, and may even put out food for it. And no, they don't eat cats.