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MOUNTAIN TOP — With a photo of their pets set next to them, along with a palette of colors mixed by their instructor, 31 amateur artists put their brushes to canvas, creatiung images of their beloved pets.

Animal lovers took part in a “Paint Your Pet” fundraiser at the Art Party Place on Sunday to benefit Mureille’s Place, a senior dog sanctuary in Wapwallopen.

Each of the participants had emailed a photo of their pet in advance to Lauren Smith, owner of the venue. The animals were then sketched in pencil onto a canvas by head artist Emily Terrell to serve as a guide.

“I give them basic instructions,” said Terrell, who is also Smith’s mother. “It’s like paint by numbers.”

Amy Owen, of Carverton, gazed at her almost-completed painting of her beloved 10-year-old black lab, Riley. With a palette of black, gray, brown and white, she wasn’t sure how to paint her eyes because one of them is blind. So she decided to paint her eye as it appeared in the photo. “It shows that fight in her to keep going,” she said.

Owen said learning how to paint her dog wasn’t difficult with Terrell’s guidance. “I find it pretty easy,” she said. “I have M.S., so this is really therapeutic for my hands, and it’s fun too.”

Barbara Nullet-Yackle, president and founder of Murielle’s (pronounced ‘Myur-`Ays’) Place, said she’s been rescuing senior dogs since 2006. “We’ve had over 120 come through our doors since then,” she said.

Nullet-Yackle said she and her husband, Kirk Yackle, share their 2,700-square-foot home with 25 dogs ranging in age from 13 to 18, many of whom have a variety of medical problems. “We are a no-kill, cage-free and totally volunteer-run sanctuary,” she said. “We provide aroma therapy and diffusers, cushy dog beds, couches and specialized classical dog music.”

The dogs are separated into packs, Nullet-Yackle said, pointing out that the upstairs of her home is for dogs with terminal conditions such a brain tumor, cancer and liver failure. Murielle is the name of Barbara’s first senior rescue dog, an akito-coyote mix who was 8 when she came into their lives. “She was running through the hills in California.”

“She puts in a lot of hours,” said Yackle of his wife. “That’s probably the reason I fell in love with her — because she has a big heart.” The sanctuary relies solely on donations and help from volunteers.

“We’ve been very blessed to have the support we’ve received,” said Nullet-Yackle.

Dogs arrive at Mureille’s Place due to circumstances such as an owner’s death, divorce and domestic violence, she said, adding that they just took in an 18-year-old husky mix. “These guys can’t go into the shelter system comfortably,” she said. “Most of them have nowhere else to go. We give families peace of mind to know that their elderly dog is in a good place.”

Volunteering at Mureille’s Place is easy and rewarding said Nullet-Yackle. Volunteers mostly play with the dogs, walk them along the walking trails on the sanctuary’s property and give them lots of affection.

Tanya Stankus, of Conyngham painted a realistic picture of her short-haired pointer, Rudy.

“He’s my son,” she said affectionately.

Stankus is a volunteer at Murielle’s Place.

“I love it,” she said. “I help feed and clean up poop and I bring them goodies.”

“Barb’s amazing,” said Stankus. “Every day, she faces another challenge and she gives them such love. If there were more people like her, the world would be a better place.”

Mallori Moran, of Drums, gets her paint pallet filled by artist Emily Terrelll at Art Party Place in Mountain Top during a benefit for Mureille’s Place, a senior dog sanctuary in Wapwallopen.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Art-Party-Place-Pet-Painting-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMallori Moran, of Drums, gets her paint pallet filled by artist Emily Terrelll at Art Party Place in Mountain Top during a benefit for Mureille’s Place, a senior dog sanctuary in Wapwallopen. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Art Party Place owner, Lauren Smith, far right, stands next to Barbara Nullet-Yachkel of Mureille’s Place as she addresses over 30 were participating int Paint Your Pet fundraiser benefiting Mureille’s Place.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Art-Party-Place-Pet-Painting-2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgArt Party Place owner, Lauren Smith, far right, stands next to Barbara Nullet-Yachkel of Mureille’s Place as she addresses over 30 were participating int Paint Your Pet fundraiser benefiting Mureille’s Place. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Art Party Place owner Lauren Smith takes a look at Hunlock Creek’s Kathleena Gerrity painting.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Art-Party-Place-Pet-Painting-3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgArt Party Place owner Lauren Smith takes a look at Hunlock Creek’s Kathleena Gerrity painting. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Mallori Moran, of Drums, gets her paint pallet filled by artist Emily Terrelll at Art Party Place in Mountain Top during a benefit for Mureille’s Place, a senior dog sanctuary in Wapwallopen.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Art-Party-Place-Pet-Painting-1CMYK-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMallori Moran, of Drums, gets her paint pallet filled by artist Emily Terrelll at Art Party Place in Mountain Top during a benefit for Mureille’s Place, a senior dog sanctuary in Wapwallopen. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Art Party Place owner, Lauren Smith, far right, stands next to Barbara Nullet-Yachkel of Mureille’s Place as she addresses over 30 were participating int Paint Your Pet fundraiser benefiting Mureille’s Place.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Art-Party-Place-Pet-Painting-2CMYK-1.jpg.optimal.jpgArt Party Place owner, Lauren Smith, far right, stands next to Barbara Nullet-Yachkel of Mureille’s Place as she addresses over 30 were participating int Paint Your Pet fundraiser benefiting Mureille’s Place. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Art Party Place owner Lauren Smith takes a look at Hunlock Creek’s Kathleena Gerrity painting.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Art-Party-Place-Pet-Painting-3CMYK-1.jpg.optimal.jpgArt Party Place owner Lauren Smith takes a look at Hunlock Creek’s Kathleena Gerrity painting. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Art exercise benefits dog shelter

By Camille Sicolo-Fioti

For Times Leader

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To learn more about Mureille’s Place, visit www.mureillesplace.org.

Reach the Times Leader at 570-829-7242.