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Struggling Soap Opera Actor Commits Suicide — Dispute With Neighbors Over Pet Dog Cited

Jan 30, 2012  •  Post A Comment

A struggling New York actor who appeared on "All My Children" and "Guiding Light" was found dead in his apartment last Wednesday in a suicide — one day after he had his beloved dog euthanized, the New York Post reports.

The death of Nick Santino, 47, is being linked to restrictive, anti-canine housing regulations at his condominium complex and a hassle with neighbors over his pitbull mix, Rocco, according to the report.

Santino’s battles with the building’s authority over Rocco had been ongoing, and in 2010 the building adopted strict new dog regulations — including a ban on pitbulls, the story reports. While Santino was allowed to keep the dog, because he already had it, he began to get increased pressure from neighbors, with Rocco being banned from the main elevator and Santino being targeted by what friends described as harassment.

Santino eventually gave up the fight and had Rocco put down, even though the dog was completely healthy. Overcome by grief, Santino killed himself, saying in a suicide note, "Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend. Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn’t deserve this."

Santino overdosed on pills, according to the report.

nick-santino.jpgNick Santino and Rocco

3 Comments

  1. Reading this (and I do question whether all the facts are ever presented in the media)but to me, this man did not commit suicide … his NY apartment neighbors killed him. This is no different than a person who is bullied who dies, either by the bully’s hand or the bullied’s hand. Those neighbors should be ashamed of themselves and I hope the guilt stays with them for the rest of their pathetic lives. They took a man’s life because of an innocent dog’s breed. Stupid, stupid people … I hope you suffer.

  2. I have to completely agree with you on this, Sarah. Boiled down to the basics, this is an act of racism on the part of the other residents in the condo. I wish this were one of those great LAW & ORDER episodes where McCoy goes after the other residents for some kind of manslaughter charge. This type of behavior is deplorable and I hope every single person in that building who drove this man to put down his dog and then himself have nightmares every night for the rest of their lives.

  3. I am so angry about this whole thing!!!Besides the tenants, what about the vet ???He saw how upset the man was and he still killed a healthy dog!!!What about other alternatives??? Humane society, boarding the dog till he finds it a home?Who kills a healthy animal when it is so loved by the man???

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