'All My Children' actor 'commits suicide after putting dog down'

An actor who appeared on US soaps All My Children and Guiding Light has apparently committed suicide after putting his beloved pet dog to sleep.

Nick Santino was found dead from an alleged pill overdose at his New York home on Wednesday (January 25). He arranged to have his pit bull Rocco euthanised 24 hours prior on his 47th birthday.

According to The New York Post, Santino made a phone call to an ex-girlfriend before apparently taking his own life and was discovered with a suicide note in which he spoke about having "betrayed" his animal companion.

"Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend," he wrote. "Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn't deserve this."

Santino is believed to have fallen out with several neighbours over his ownership of Rocco once his building banned pit bulls back in 2010.

Although Rocco was allowed to stay, residents allegedly continued to complain and slapped Santino with a number of tight restrictions regarding the dog - such as prohibiting him from leaving the animal unaccompanied for more than nine hours.

"He felt like he was in this battle because he was the only guy in the building with a pit bull mix," a neighbour said. "He was distraught and remorseful about putting down his best friend."

Plans are reportedly in place for Santino's ashes to be spread at the same location as Rocco's.

> 'All My Children', 'One Life to Live' online distribution plans axed