They both knew that in the long run, a situation such as that would be untenable with their lack of any House Elves or a desire to board the animals during the day. Their separate jobs managed to keep them both occupied for long enough to ensure that it would be a disservice to any animal to be left alone all day. But one day (they reasoned,) when the myriad debts of their pasts had been paid off in full and nothing else remained to keep them away from a simple and quiet life, they would find themselves something warm and energetic to keep them company.