Growing Old with Honey Bun Chronicles of an Old Man and His Last Puppy

Book excerpt: Man's best friend; that special dog that becomes a part of the family and a part of one's life is a treasure. Anthony Panico had two very special best friends that brought joy to his life and his story is a personal narration of his experience with his prized pups. Goldie was six-months old when Panico found her tied to a tree. Rescuing her turned into one of the best friendships of his life. The two became inseparable; wherever he went, Goldie was by his side-for 15 years. When Goldie's life came to an end, Panico believed he'd never find a canine companion to take her place. Panico's wife knew the only way to remedy her husband's depression was to find him another dog and she did so with Honey Bun, a two-month old yellow Labrador. Honey Bun became Goldie's replacement and, for the past ten years, Panico and his pet have been constant companions-one an old man of 80, the other a nine-year old dog, sharing day-to-day activities, growing older together and finding an unbreakable bond that sustains them both to this day. This personal journal, filled with hope, heartbreak and love, is a beautiful representation of how these magnificent creatures, though only with us for a brief time, bring out the best in us. Anthony Panico is a veteran, a trained engineer and a retired educator. Mr. Panico has authored several technical reports and scientific articles. He lives with his wife and Honey Bun in New Jersey.