I had the very same problem when Heidi was little. I hated leaving her (still do), but this solution finally worked for me: I got 2 wire cages like yours (one has two doors). I pulled the 2nd door off and put the cages together. Now its like she has her own little mini-suite. One room with her dog bed & water bottle, and the other with her puppy pad. It works out really good for her. Occasionally she'll mess up & step in it
, but then I just pop her in the tub when I get home and wash her little feet. It just dawned on me, maybe if I put a towel over the front of her bathroom side she won't go in there so much and won't be as likely to step on it. Hmmm, I'm going to try that!