Yeech. I remember having mice in the kitchen of my parent's house growing up. Eurgh. Having mouse turds everywhere is nasty and gross. It didn't help that ours was an old house (build in 1869) with lots of holes for them to get into.
That being said, I have had rats as pets and absolutely loved them to bits. My pet rats were nothing like the rats and mice that infest houses. My rats were clean and lived in cages. And they were hilarious and adorable. My girl rat taught herself how to beg for treats. My boy used to fall asleep on the top shelf of his cage and fall off the shelf while he was sleeping and wake up in time to catch onto the edge with one paw.