( E* }0 o# Z' E3 p3 S& HBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 4 J, b5 ?1 u3 U 9 n0 w" P5 O2 g, O4 ^. R# s) L身為獸醫，我曾被找去為一隻名叫「Belker」的10歲愛爾蘭獵狼犬看病。1 _# I, {6 Q# N6 @
0 B8 T& J6 D3 d+ K& O) J" fThe dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.6 ~8 C) d1 w5 l! w9 N+ j% }) h
/ C/ E% `: p5 D( ~Belker的主人羅恩，他的太太麗莎和他們的小男孩西恩都和Belker感情很好，也都期待奇蹟發生。 : P6 \* A% J4 N" A + L# J7 p% s. s# g. _& II examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. 6 R0 G& r* h3 G" u ; C9 v" [2 i# i) N檢查後，我發現Belker罹患癌症，回天乏術；我告訴這家人，我們無法幫Belker做點什麼了，也建議在家中為牠實施安樂死。 9 S) z4 g" I+ i! d0 B- C: f! f! n, }$ {: s
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.) S3 T2 a" M: J) g5 ^; e
3 c4 i6 {! s) `The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. 1 {. y/ t2 S9 q% r2 u5 @- b% U- r5 U7 l
隔天，這家人圍繞在Belker身邊時，我和以往一樣有了哽咽的感覺。西恩似乎很平靜，最後一次輕拍這隻老狗，我甚至懷疑他是否真的瞭解情況。幾分鐘之後，Belker安詳地死去了。 8 S& l; }# |* \$ U0 o: y/ g2 r4 J6 u! C& e
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. " C, J' s" Y O- e. u8 b3 i9 @1 @5 |* x0 Z: [5 o1 ?; P
小男孩似乎沒有太多困難和疑惑就接受了Belker的離去。我們在Belker死去後一起坐了一會兒，感嘆動物的壽命總是比人類短這個哀傷的現實。6 c- L& _2 l+ ]0 r2 V) \+ i8 J$ c# A
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."! Y6 I8 _/ w1 w( P
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靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」$ f" ^8 r- i. J* K) L
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Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"6 N1 N4 W) E2 c
' D5 _1 m) L$ f我們非常驚訝地轉頭望著他，接下來他說的話，令我大為感動，是我聽過最令人欣慰的解釋。他說：「人們出生就是為了要學會如何過好生活，比如愛身邊的人，好好對待別人，對嗎？」 : b- J' _6 `4 S/ C# d3 K 7 h8 q* k7 {6 K- _The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)3 ~2 x9 T4 K: P0 t
! B) G$ Y5 W# Y; d* `+ B●狗老師的啟示… y0 Y) V, g# W ^( ?; g9 C4 c4 q2 \! C7 g
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:7 l+ P/ |0 {6 o3 _' l3 I
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記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：5 @( o5 F# y5 x' o! x
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.. A1 o9 t7 M3 S2 D4 K- v4 h
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 # g2 o: a' q# E# V7 W: u" @1 ?$ g! x9 f# ^
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 3 I6 l& p5 s% ^: l3 i; K4 Q: _7 p L. Z3 I! d2 n
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。. t6 x- ~% y% L2 h$ v
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you. ' X+ E4 U8 E0 }1 X # e1 }# [2 a$ j% h: c+ k隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。( i: @& g8 x% H P) @
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. + E d( {3 Z! ^8 B9 o) u7 d& b2 d, I; x
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 * w: b# d! _7 T" I# v# O7 I3 Q' P) Y z
Be loyal.7 X! m6 \2 f( s+ k4 G: P! M
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忠誠。4 n* x8 E2 s. V: ^# r9 ^' E' L, h+ E
+ T! T" V! N; e$ PNever pretend to be something you're not.8 R6 L5 V* }" `$ @ F1 w/ E
. \7 i7 v" u0 j永遠不假裝。 C1 Q6 X7 s. |% T
' Z' e* J& C H9 v |( A4 tWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.+ A5 x1 P6 w7 |
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如果家裡有人不開心，保持沉默，坐到他身邊，溫柔地拱拱他、安慰他。% L7 ^7 F4 Z1 \9 v& u