' u+ W' v- c' P& EBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.) X- \4 E* M5 j Q
. Y, w! @: t5 f4 X1 P) a8 e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。4 [4 @) ^1 c3 K2 z: E3 ~
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The 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. 4 E+ J2 |) e3 h8 @3 a; \3 s 2 h* v: x3 v1 ?! _1 V3 Y; o& J6 HBelker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。 ( c* B2 o1 v; G2 F0 H + q! k B& L; _ P0 l. VI 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. % j+ u3 |9 l J 9 q, B9 _* p3 I6 i5 X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。 , p% x: E! _" g! `6 }% J( g) ~' U* x8 X0 \9 F$ R
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. 6 w# m8 U9 T2 l: `6 T* E' {1 z" x( u6 s0 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。 $ X5 |# r0 O5 k : `9 W8 ~( q5 _ b0 H- vThe 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. . R: S2 @$ E7 V 8 n7 G3 H" |9 V* {; G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。% H: i" @ U, u3 j4 s7 U
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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.; T1 ^6 p8 y1 o& M- ^ o3 C5 S7 D
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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 L7 ?5 n8 n# Z; m* l6 p5 ~
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." + y4 A/ S" Z3 C8 Q. @- r1 f! C; r3 r% W7 @; \% C7 D8 |- H1 ^
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 & N% a! m; f) g' r! F " H4 w( }, T/ `& H a+ v3 J/ }3 A- YStartled, 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?" 3 o/ b1 v# t1 h- B0 c" G# N( i$ z $ d$ U+ X4 \$ O# C; S9 a# @4 P# Z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？」 & K! r9 h& L0 ]9 a& l* ]3 K7 _4 S% O+ s; d- L0 ?/ R
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)- k8 V5 A+ r( [* p) v& N+ }" B
& l Z1 m( c- z& t% k* X: @: B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)7 E6 ~3 U; o# X, U5 n+ Z) q8 v
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死1 F$ Y) g6 d9 z
! z- N0 k' i3 `# Q3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 # {; N) H+ u N2 @4 |! U5 m7 O5 X. K0 u" C7 b- O5 i
●狗老師的啟示… / N$ w# W$ w6 ~( z9 E! H , a8 q7 @ [* u hRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:6 Q' ?/ h2 w5 g" C; D$ @# V6 K: P
# u' h4 d; U6 ~) |4 r h: gWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.# ]+ w1 a+ l% W0 y/ h. N
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 o* \* K! P) M& P0 ?. Q
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. ! z7 ~% x: W; _$ ^* S 7 v4 B* k$ W/ \7 E9 m永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 * t; r* q9 E4 e2 n1 f L3 i' j$ A. mThrive on attention and let people touch you.9 v# T, k% J9 x( G5 ]$ E4 G
1 C# f7 b: Q3 A! u N& d9 O1 M隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 9 p' l0 ]/ h0 `! z, z( |% S6 U: D' d, p+ x2 ]) F. l
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.+ \2 X! I$ d; N) E! k
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 8 n" J' B) ^; [% i1 H& I( e ! J& e+ M$ @8 O& F+ l- ^* H3 x! PBe loyal. $ G. G7 ?, m$ k2 p: n$ h2 x ' [% R* o |+ c0 A: t忠誠。' P) \) n, v* l( B; K/ g! q
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Never pretend to be something you're not.' T9 ?) u8 s$ @
; G( T8 F6 v: \- N% t' T9 L永遠不假裝。: o5 h/ J- V7 Q$ G
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.) \+ z$ `/ [- A) _& `6 [6 D
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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。" t% D3 a/ O1 w _4 M" b d
4 O `$ \" K2 d. J; k) V c2 kRead 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/ T! k% Y. N0 [( x, y+ \9 E+ R