Patty, you have a wonderful heart.  I will trust anyone who shows that much compassion to an animal.  Because I raised three boys we have had our fair share of animals as well.  I used to think we could charge admission! 
We've had all kinds of newts, lizards, iguanas, ferrets, birds, fish, dogs, cats, rabbits, frogs and fish.  We even had a Boa Constrictor who had gotten old and needed a retirement home from our local nature preserve.  That meant we had to raise mice for food...  The boys are grown and we have one little Yorkshire Terrier who rules the roost.