# Q( j: h- Z# l- h" M5 u1 O- [, mBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.& w8 e) C) A: n
4 u$ \0 S6 F4 w3 b* f, { V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 S. T' g3 n; [: X: n
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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 s/ `4 S5 R' Z6 [
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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。 7 h/ Q7 a. R9 s; d& Q" P1 w, N! ?. O, e* ]
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.6 t: N/ h* i8 h
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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。/ x) _$ ?" d) Q' }% K3 {
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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. . N/ Y' X) d0 K, X% p2 v- A5 U- A \0 O6 b2 B+ J
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。 ) ?% e1 v* F" J1 K4 T0 ~5 v: z* [ s* F' F; F& k0 h% w
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.% A4 _0 Q K: V) l% }
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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。" O6 E4 `! b( [+ B
$ k" _. w$ E" g" f% a- N/ eThe 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. % v' `1 |% v) R% K% M 8 n3 C* U1 I. f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。. @3 G' _6 Q* N
) t& w( z7 F, n* J3 w2 LShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."8 c1 q& f& M9 H3 T) X3 F
5 \8 |% h9 v4 P" o靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 % {) P$ S- B( q' D5 p2 j2 p6 V% g- y( R% W6 _# L$ F: W+ q S4 s" w/ O
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?" 8 U" L& {6 E6 R( n# p 5 D% U7 M2 t5 |8 w2 E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？」 5 C" P4 ~$ s$ u1 e: }4 Q7 B+ E" h' a, i1 y2 ]! ~% ?% J# u
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) " m& Y( _! t9 N7 p% e& r# C% ~ 7 D+ K7 I7 `; K4 X: q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); i2 [# I$ {0 F/ P* C7 v* X1 ^# {
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死; @1 T$ a9 b3 ^; ]1 V+ T
e) k4 ~) r4 D( m' c2.transition：過渡，轉變, p9 v5 T7 y' G9 ^4 c
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3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 ( {0 n2 c" x& \; H# j/ r$ z3 D Q$ i) j
●狗老師的啟示… 7 T* ?" L) ] S: ?; } ; V9 s' d1 U: yRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:0 }8 e" k6 d5 P# O& `1 `$ M+ I
* p0 s" I2 b$ q. ~記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：; D2 m: {, g. g5 h6 n
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.0 x9 L* h3 y! ?8 h2 n- ?- }5 v- s+ H
# f! Q# v9 F# _當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。9 F, @& F. S2 @3 m4 Z) C8 |
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.) L& g; [# r# k/ a$ q& l
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 $ H& ]- d5 d* S/ g# V; Z6 w3 ^0 v. v( H$ V* M
Thrive on attention and let people touch you. ' O: ^# J1 N! }( ^: Y. p( C( K/ T2 v- B7 y; j9 R, P" x
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。/ S/ Q( A) u& a9 t" o# l! c$ i
8 c# h2 X- V; c8 _( PWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. / ^! ], d C( \, i; v0 G3 x0 E3 V) G: [% ?$ z. h% h+ g; S
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。+ [6 [4 ?- m; o4 W6 y% c* w7 [
' e2 P8 Z/ V: k4 n' B, S$ qBe loyal.. q9 P# ]: u6 ~) F0 |7 M$ B
+ z. n/ J3 t# M忠誠。4 J% v& R& d) \, Z) ~) ]( h
8 E$ N, ^, B7 aNever pretend to be something you're not./ A+ l, D: f) r+ K+ {7 A
+ g( G7 w: A4 f6 R0 {1 c" I永遠不假裝。 / z0 O7 X9 H$ U/ L4 L2 |& b- p: f9 ]# W$ S
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. ) h* [) ?1 v" F2 H5 A, g S * c3 {4 ]+ L% ?+ e& P9 q" y; }6 _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。 8 X- K8 U& F9 H4 I9 p+ m - u* U0 w- X( G" n G- bRead 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 4 Y2 n5 k. m1 w, q8 W, `( @" Y- s