I have cats for this very reason. Certainly couldn't leave a dog all day at home unless I had someone to come in every day, then you have to rely on someone. Cats are fine, though - I got two, to keep each other company during the day, though.
Yeah, but they were very spacious.
Actually, in living at the kennels for 25 years, I was only ever bitten twice, once by a Borzoi and once by a Bulldog. My least favourite dogs were the yappy Jack Russels - nasty little things. Loved the big dogs though.