For good or bad we constantly try to eliminate them from our lives. First, we used traps baited with cheese. When the cheese is removed, a spring loaded device slams a metal rod against the unsuspecting mouse, either catching a leg so that the animal cannot escape or breaking its back and paralyzing it. These devices are effective and safe around most other animals. However we did not like this method, as it was too messy.
Poisons are much cleaner.
The rats usually wander off to die, so it is almost as if we did not even kill them at all - they just went away. To get the rats to eat the poison, it is flavored like grain. Unfortunately, dogs like the flavoring, as well. They actually like it so much that they will eat an entire box. Once ingested and absorbed into their bodies, the poison causes its deadly effects.