Seeking Tattoo Advice

I know there are plenty of other folks around these parts who have tattoos, so I'll drop some lines here and see what responses I get.

I have a couple of tattoos already. Nothing major, both are just fancy text tattoos. But it's time to up the ante. I want to get a portrait tattoo done on my upper right arm.

This link is the subject matter of the tattoo.

Now, before anyone asks, "Why the hell do you want to get that?!", please understand that I have a personal rule that I won't get a tattoo done unless it has significant meaning in my life. That picture is, for all intents and purposes, a picture of one of my kids. I'll never actually have kids so my pets are my kids. He was one of 7 that I helped raise from his birth and he was very much my boy. He, and his siblings, helped me a lot through many dark days and trying times. He's been gone for 3 and a half years now and there hasn't been a day where I haven't thought about him and miss his affection and attempts to cheer me up. This tattoo is no longer something I merely want, but something I feel I have to have done as a tribute, not only to him but to all the others who have brightened (and those who will brighten) up my life.

Alas, I've rambled long enough, back to the matter at hand.

As you can see, he's a white rat. I'm a medium tone (not fair, but not dark) light skinned person. I don't think a lot of white will work well. I seem to recall that it may tint to an off yellow and look very poorly. The only change to the original picture is I'm going to get the tail to go down the length of my arm instead of being straight out as in the picture.

So I'm wondering what to do.
Would this work well as a black and gray portrait?
Perhaps black and gray but get the eyes the proper color?