Pocket Beagles Crate behavior

Question
We have a pocket beagle that weighs only 6 pounds at 16 weeks.  She is only supposed to get 7 pounds.  During the day she is put in a crate so she can potty and play with toys while we are away at work.  My husband recently just went back to work so since we have had her from 8 weeks old she was never in a crate all day long.  I have to be at work for 7:30 in the morning and don't arrive home from work until about 5.  They past few days everytime i come home she has the crate torn apart.  She started with chewing up her pee pads but yesterday she flipped the water bowl over, ate both pee pads and had the place destroyed.  What can I do to ease her of this situation? She has plenty of treats and water for the whole day.  I just have lost it when it comes to this since it takes me about 10 mintues and mopping and washing everything to clean it up for her to do it the next day.  Please help.

Answer
You may not find me much help.  I don't think it works very well to leave a puppy all day by itself.  If you can't make it back for a mid day break, perhaps you could find a neighbor or a professional dog walker.  

One suggestion would be to put a piece of expanded metal or grill over the pad to protect it, and still allow the puppy to use it.