Carrie, Please, never be sorry for dissagreeing with me or anybody.
Everyone's opinion is most important
and I very much value yours.

I quoted the den information straight from
a section in my book on crate training.
As for emergency:
I meant after the fact, in case an
animal had to be displaced.
In a dissaster situations, your animals might
have to be transported by crate and temporarly kept in one.
Many of the rescue groups, each each year
request donations of crates during a dissaster for transporting animals.

A dog can very much enjoy a car ride,
but put a dog in a closed in crate,
it can suffer sever anxiety, if it is not
accustomed to a crate.
(I have such a dog.)
As for crates, many behavior/trainers, books, and humane societies now seem to recommend some type of crate training today.
Since I am not into crate training,
I would be happy to supply you with an e-mail list I am on that a few good trainers and reputable rescue people are on that
can explain the do's and don't to crate training, much better than I can.
There is also a web site called Pet Care Forum. IF you find their library, look up crate training. It lists crate education from known humane rescue groups and also trainers.
Crate training is not my thing, but It might
be quite usefull for others if not abused.