Soap Opera Star Nick Santino Commits Suicide After Euthanizing His Dog (Photo)
Soap Opera star Nick Santino took his own life this week, after he was forced to put his beloved dog to sleep under pressure from his Upper West Side condo.
“Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend. Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn’t deserve this.”
The Brooklyn-born Santino — a struggling actor whose TV credits include “All My Children” and “Guiding Light” — adopted Rocco from a shelter several years ago.
Santino euthanized his dog, Rocco, Tuesday — on Santino’s 47th birthday.
The gut-wrenching decision became too much to bear.
Neighbors said a tearful Santino brought dog treats to the building’s doorman and said: “Give these to the other dogs. Rocco is no more.”
The last phone call he made was to a former girlfriend at 2 a.m. Wednesday. Later that day, police found his body in his bedroom. He had overdosed on pills.
It appears, Rocco was Nick’s only family.
This is the saddest story I have ever read.
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A very sad story here! I’ve only recently discovered how powerful the bond between man and dog can be. I grew up terrified of dogs after being attacked by two German Shepards when I was a small child and told myself I’d never own one, but having kids changed that!
My kids had begged to get a dog and I finally relented a couple of years ago. I told them we’d give it a try and I told myself it wouldn’t last more than a week, but something happened and now Jack is my best friend, it’s really crazy.
We now have two dogs and I love them like they are family. I’d hate to have to put them down. It would be a very tough thing for me to do.