0 e0 L/ R3 x' M8 EBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. : f5 U; T- V K. j1 }9 f4 g: K4 J 1 J* _3 ^0 p" q) f& R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。6 p6 M6 J: F% e0 f; ]! K e
! w, k/ a# t9 q/ x$ L" m2 MThe 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.( z8 B6 n; N: |$ }9 `) N8 N7 V
; f0 u$ c3 a$ IBelker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。2 J q' e. E8 Z4 Z
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I 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.: T) v" n; h" c' O8 k( ]2 C Y l4 Q
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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。" }& w1 X# i9 h7 q2 S2 U* k
! G7 q% Z8 t) g! c$ ^# BAs 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.! T& K& } I+ S- e1 \
7 _' C) Q" i! c( M, B8 I$ s在我們準備的時候，羅恩和麗莎告訴我，他們覺得讓西恩觀察整個過程會是好事，相信西恩也許能從這段經歷學到一些東西。1 O) t5 e$ @9 O* n2 Z
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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.) n7 A/ n: b3 D# O* J9 D9 c
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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。 ' w0 h( N/ \3 \* T6 g$ y7 k+ r ; w0 L/ q& f% O- U0 F1 L0 bThe 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. / {* R% k6 k9 z3 k, K ; K; W0 h& B# I) M2 g N6 M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。 U# D- U, f" H& B# E- k1 a/ i0 Y, E- k; W
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." - {; A* }/ K" z! }8 ?, d. n" v' H5 i6 V5 U8 `0 z# T
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」4 \! g: a# @7 s
" s: V p) S) UStartled, 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?": ~1 x4 v) F* `! }
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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？」 0 P7 F6 a8 S. h0 f Q; c% ]3 u* N 0 z4 A2 T8 f- ?/ O* i$ tThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) # u1 `9 B: d l6 L7 @# l) }: d( C7 a9 h; G, r; y( l/ N
這個6歲的孩子繼續說：「而狗狗原本就知道怎麼做到這些了，所以牠們不需要活那麼久。」(取材自allone.com) ! a. ]8 V0 g% A" K # l$ Z* L; R' `. ^5 A詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死! Q8 F& h7 q4 r5 K% d) _8 d
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2.transition：過渡，轉變 ! i" l0 o! a$ |3 q3 R O0 R) j! l3 v3 z1 @3 }0 s" i8 M
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出8 H5 M! M6 p; V. g& j! |
0 e: r7 S g1 g3 @5 c4 T6 w●狗老師的啟示… * k# G2 a4 L1 ~0 C1 C! A1 ` 4 p0 w5 S8 L- U$ GRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 3 `) n8 q' W& o7 g7 W. e& ] 9 e7 T) ^0 }+ y) n. @5 k8 D記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：# }! s0 {5 K. ]- s* b) h
' o3 B$ P$ q+ Y- X9 a2 nWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.7 x' v* Y+ |: r0 u2 A
6 a( e. h1 e4 F; g6 C0 G當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。# u( N( x6 D2 y: O2 m* w, R
( V) O' g0 Y4 ~$ CNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.- D* [* v, E l) r
3 a7 C/ t4 y! T6 X( Q# e永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 & f: |- F4 v& O+ @( h0 t6 M : F# U6 S6 ^4 l* _. i. UThrive on attention and let people touch you.3 j2 h2 P2 Y6 I7 i8 S! n9 C* z& H! o
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。* \) |2 Z( Q7 Y- f6 y2 n* a0 L
B7 |) A, }, RWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 1 n- o' {8 {7 P' B% M; A! {% z7 N& ~. `, c. k
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 , i. `! X6 Y$ O" f$ j' I) L; N+ S F! c8 ]- L
Be loyal. 0 {5 U/ q- I) E. P# V7 B6 _# L" g0 \! ]( ?! P4 x
忠誠。) B* i; \* k5 ~" u
7 W) \% [6 |% R* Q' h% \. ONever pretend to be something you're not.6 c0 `& l# B9 S
" [. S" V& r% \) Z# Y; q永遠不假裝。) M1 J9 b; k9 G; U5 C% o/ @8 w
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.& k2 Y+ ~; u5 J8 y) l( F
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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。 ! K0 H, H0 \; E6 _/ s; E x; v% @4 V, U: y9 a* C+ m$ d: K" r
Read more: 世界新聞網-北美華文新聞、華商資訊 - 狗狗天生知道如何愛 . Z5 K" }/ R/ S2 {; I, z6 i; C. [5 g' ]