Soap Actor Commits Suicide After Putting Dog to Sleep

A struggling soap opera actor took his own life last week after he euthanized his dog allegedly due to pressure from his condo association, according to the New York Post.

Nick Santino, who appeared on All My Children and Guiding Light was found dead in his New York residence just a day after he put down his beloved pit bull, Rocco, on his 47th birthday Tuesday.

"Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend," Santino 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, saying "I did not rescue Rocco, Rocco rescued me."

But, in 2010, Santino began to have issues with residents in his building, after new strict dog regulations were announced, which included a ban on pit bulls.

Although the ban didn't affect residents who already had pit bulls in the building, many of Santino's neighbors reportedly weren't fond of Rocco, and complained often about the dog, which wasn't allowed to be left in Santino's apartment alone for more than nine hours or ride in the main elevators.

"He felt like he was in this battle because he was the only guy in the building with a pit-bull mix," Santino's neighbor, Kevin Clearly, told the paper. "He was distraught and remorseful about putting down his best friend."

After making a phone 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.