Alleged Dumpster Dog Dumper Due Back in Court in March

The now suspended Town of Islip animal shelter worker facing a felony charge for allegedly dumping a live dog in a West Islip dumpster in late December has posted bail and is due back in court in March.

Babylon resident Michael Papini, 31, was caught on surveillance video taking a large plastic garbage bag out of the back of a vehicle and throwing it into a dumpster behind USA gas station in West Islip, located at 410 Montauk Highway, according to the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

Inside the bag was a female 1-year-old Lhasa apso, who was found alive in the dumpster the next morning, the SPCA said. 

Papini, who was arrested on December 28, 2013, has been suspended without pay from his job as a kennel attendant at the Islip Animal Shelter in Bay Shore, according to Islip Town spokeswoman Inez Birbiglia. 

Papini is charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty and several misdemeanors. charges. He posted $500 bail on December 29 and is due back in court on March 14.

The dog was treated at the Veterinary Medical Center of West Islip and was taken to the Islip Animal Shelter.