I've been informed by Multnomah Animal Control that the law in Multnomah County regarding keeping dogs in crates is that, as long as the dog is let out of the crate once every twenty-four hours and given food and water, the owner is behaving acceptably.
The reason given, by the way, for denying a crated dog water is that it might drink the water and then urinate in the crate.
The Animal Control worker suggested I "write Congress" if I didn't like it. I am writing this letter instead, and suggesting that anyone who thinks crating dogs without food and water for 24 hours is cruel write their Multnomah County Commissioner and ask about changing this law.
In my opinion, people who have dogs that are so miserable and lonely that they resort to tearing up the house when they're left alone should not have dogs, or at least not that dog.