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1/28/2012 7:12 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF
Struggling Soap Actor Commits Suicide After Euthanizing Beloved Dog

Nick Santino and his beloved dog
A soap actor killed himself this week on his 47th birthday ... hours after he was forced to put his beloved dog to sleep under pressure from his Manhattan condo.

According to the NY Post the building had a ban on pit-bulls, but Nick Santino's dog had been grandfathered in ... which didn't sit well with some of the neighbors. Some claimed the dog was loud and aggressive, but others said building management was just harassing Santino ... trying to force him to get rid of the dog.

Santino had Rocco put to sleep on Tuesday -- for some reason he felt that was his only option.

According to the paper, a tearful Santino brought dog treats to the doorman and said, "Give these to the other dogs. Rocco is no more."

Later that day Santino left a suicide note that read, "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 -- who has appeared on "All My Children" and "The Guiding Light" -- OD'd on pills early the next morning.

Rocco was cremated and friends told the Post Santino will be too.

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Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 23) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments
1.

Willa329:  26 days ago

This story is such garbage...first off what Vet is going to Euthanize a health dog??? Second if he felt that killing the dog was the only answer then he was an idiot. He should have spent all that time he was being "pressured" to find the dog a home.

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2.

James R. - Los Angeles:  26 days ago

Agreed, Willa.

Likes 4 Dislikes 11
3.

Mabel Leaf:  26 days ago

What does "grandfathered in" mean?

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4.

THE CHAMP:  26 days ago

I'm so sorry too hear this story and having had a few pitt's myself and knowing how much of a compainion they can be and best friend...Very sad..I had to put down one of my pitts I had for 12 years he had a bad cancer and was one of the hardest saddest days of my life ...VERY SAD STORY and to all those people that were complaining about his dog FACK YOU YOU FACKING POLE SUCKERS

Likes 15 Dislikes 2
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5.

KB:  26 days ago

why didn't he just move? he killed his dog and himself because of his neighbors?

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6.

jacksonfive210:  26 days ago

This dude has some serious issues that aren't talked about in this story

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7.

Ginger:  26 days ago

Grandfathered in means if a rule is passed where you live, for example no pit bulls, but you have lived there with your pit for several years, you get to keep the dog because you were there before the rule. I know it's sad he had to put his dog down but many people just refuse to believe how dangerous pits are. The 'sweetest' pit bull in the world attacked my son when he was 7. I agree with whoever said he should have just moved.

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8.

justin:  26 days ago

Harvey you have no shame !!!!!!!

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9.

karlew:  26 days ago

I love my dog and I'd move a thousand times before I put her down. I'm thinking this guy must have had serious mental health issues though. That said it's likely the management company were acting like Nazis because the dog is a Pit. Here in Ontario it is illegal to even own a Pit because of similar Nazis and our ridiculous government. When are people going to learn the owners are the problem not the dog?

Likes 13 Dislikes 5
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10.

Lori:  26 days ago

There is probably more to the story then this, however as many of you know pit bulls tend to end up Euthanized or sitting in adoption homes for years. They are completely misunderstood because of their "aggressive nature" but really its all how the actual dog is trained, if you train it to be aggressive it will be if you train it to be friendly it will be . In addition a pet becomes apart of your family, there's no greater love then the love of a pet, it teaches you things you can never understand unless you are a pet owner. My dog has been and will always be my best friend and apart of the family so I understand this mans pain with having to put his pet down because of a stupid coop bored or nosy neighbors that have no business in commenting on someones business or animal.

Likes 10 Dislikes 2
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11.

Mabel Leaf:  26 days ago

Thank you Ginger.

Likes 1 Dislikes 3
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12.

craig:  26 days ago

he had other options,move,give away the dog,i think the arguing with the neighbors was his last straw to his decision of ending his life,not the dog..he had a fragile mind,damaged,its a horrible thing and i feel bad but this had nothing to do with the dog,he wants the neighbors to think it is for them to feel pain

Likes 3 Dislikes 1
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13.

silvrback7600:  26 days ago

For all you people that said pitbulls are more aggressive then other dogs should have your head checked. The owners are the ones that make dogs aggressive. Yes in history pitbulls were bread to kill the emporer of china, but he also bread the shar pei to kill pit bulls. Dogs are wonderfull animals.

Grandfather in means the rule of banning pits came after his dog was in the condo.

Likes 8 Dislikes 3
14.

Jen:  26 days ago

A vet will absolutely euthanize a healthy dog, what do you think shelters do to millions of healthy puppies and dogs every year? Finding a home for an adult dog can be extremely difficult if not impossible. Ignorance is bliss. I do agree this guy definitely had some deeper issues or problems to go to such extreme's. Moving may not have been an option for him financially, it says he lived in Manhattan, isn't it super expensive and hard to find affordable places to live there?

Likes 10 Dislikes 1
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15.

Jen:  26 days ago

Those who feel that pit bulls are more aggressive than other dogs need to educate their selves. The only reason there are more incidents are because ignorant people breed and raise pit bulls to be aggressive. They are a very smart and loving breed, they are just physically built in a way that makes them very capable. Any dog can be made into an aggressive and vicious dog if they are treated poorly and abusively.

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