Argumentative Essay: Should Fox Hunting Be Allowed?

Fox hunting is the sport of hunting a fox across country with a pack of hounds by a group of people, a traditional sport of the English upper-class. It is a rather controversial topic and is rather relevant currently with the news about a possible repeal on the fox hunting ban. So should it be allowed?
To start with, hunting with dogs is an extremely cruel and grossly barbaric sport which I believe serves no purpose in today's society. Innocent foxes will be savagely ripped apart for the pure thrill of it; for the hunters who get a kick out of a savage act. Additionally, dogs, which are used in the fox hunt, do not hunt foxes by natural instinct, but must be trained and encouraged to do so.
Moreover, foxes live mainly on earthworms, rodents, beetles and carrion, not fully on livestock as some would have you believe. Farmers who complain foxes feed on their livestock simply need to take better care of their animals; if foxes do eat livestock it is because it is in their nature. Besides, if foxes are posing a genuine threat it would be more humane to shoot them rather that rip them apart.
However, they are pack animals and regulate their own populations as many studies have shown, so there is no need for this ‘population control’ argument for fox hunting.
What’s more, once a chase has begun, until the fox has died from exhaustion or is torn to shreds, the hunters will want to chase it continuously. This usually means being hot on the heels of the fox at all times – unfortunately, this means possible running rampant through private property or rural villages. Due to this, hunting is actually disruptive to the countryside, as it can cause considerable damage in the local area. Further to this, it can cause further distress by trampling on any unlucky animals in the