Nick Santino, a struggling soap opera actor, apparently took his own life last week after he euthanized his dog due to pressure from his condo association.
Nick, who appeared on All My Children and Guiding Light, was found dead in his New York residence just a day after he put down beloved pit bull, Rocco
“Today I betrayed mand put down my best friend,” Santino, 47, wrote in a suicide note. “Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn’t deserve this.”
Santino, who was raised in an orphanage and foster homes, adopted Rocco from a shelter several years ago, and wrote fondly of his dog on his Facebook page.
“I did not rescue Rocco, Rocco rescued me,” he once wrote.
But in 2010, Santino began to have issues with residents in his building, after a strict dog regulation policy was announced, which included a ban on pit bulls.
The ban didn’t affect residents who already had pit bulls in the building, many of Nick Santino’s neighbors reportedly weren’t fond of Rocco, and complained.
“He was distraught and remorseful about putting down his best friend.”
It was much worse than anyone thought. After making a call to his former girlfriend at about 2 a.m. Wednesday, police found Santino’s body in his bedroom.
He passed away from an apparent overdose on pills. R.I.P.