Miracle, dog found in trash bin, ready for adoption

The dog named Miracle after being rescued from a trash bin is being put up for adoption, officials said Wednesday.

Adoption applications will be accepted for the 3-year-old cockapoo that was wrapped in two plastic bags and put in trash bin Dec. 23 at a West Islip gas station, said Det. Paul Llobell, of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

She was found, a malnourished mass of severely matted fur, by a homeless man who was going through the trash. Town officials initially identified Miracle as a 1 1/2-year-old Lhasa apso.

At the shelter Wednesday, Miracle lay nervously in Town Councilman Anthony Senft Jr.'s arms, wearing a pink studded collar and with freshly groomed gray-and-white fur.

"It is not often that a tragedy turns into a miracle," Senft said as he patted her head.

Miracle was one of two dogs abandoned by Islip Animal Shelter employee Michael Papini, 30, of Babylon, authorities said. The other, a poodle named Bailey, has not been found.

Surveillance footage showed Papini abandoning Miracle, authorities said, and other surveillance footage shows the same driver abandoning the poodle.

A woman gave both dogs to Papini, who agreed to take them to the shelter where he worked, authorities said. She also paid him $250, according to court records. Instead of taking the dogs to the shelter, Papini let Bailey out of his vehicle on Cooper Street in Babylon and dumped Miracle in the trash bin, authorities said.

Papini has been charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty, abandonment of animals, petty larceny and other crimes. His case is pending.

Families hoping to adopt Miracle should file their applications in person at the Islip Animal Shelter in Bay Shore between noon and 2 p.m. Thursday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday -- the last day applications will be accepted.