/ G6 M# u. p, @2 D) }1 P5 k3 BThe 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. 8 W4 {2 q7 x; G6 W5 W& Y: }8 L2 i, y, d 0 \1 z, G% [" n3 N, w+ z+ `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。 + M5 \) L% c: T, a; z& Q5 L. x/ g: `4 k
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.# }/ z- o# H7 W- v* L& ]* A: E+ Q
8 c1 x6 a8 A: F" _7 y3 o6 g6 A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。. L4 n! |1 m$ q0 N
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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. : B7 M! p- A# D% B' G$ g . e9 i3 r% ?( \: N0 N$ 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。 . S" r: n* T: C% H1 \6 b2 G. U( ?8 z' i, ^7 ^6 ]
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.' W" R) i1 y/ N8 g0 `! {
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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。+ j- |, O, [/ O( \) @3 u
# W# a6 s, t; ?; i7 wThe 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.# |9 {0 V. s- _, t7 u" s9 y
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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。8 n1 d7 m7 `2 z
8 p5 D* t g0 l, X) L- f( T( SShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why.", t3 e1 D; }/ t% V4 D
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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。」 1 A5 z# `- I- ^9 n- A5 a9 }2 P4 Y' p* m5 r
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?" 7 X/ x+ O/ h' f8 n( b# T( {( b9 W# N; I+ h" b: I
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？」$ w) t3 S9 D; j
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The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 4 ~& ?3 N4 e! u6 o) @5 x & f1 J7 J" S4 Y4 F" S9 @1 ?8 U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)- ^8 l8 J6 D* T2 r) y5 o$ |/ y
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死- L5 a/ G6 k; D6 r7 J' N" e- M! d6 b7 T
; x% k9 _) Z, C! z1 z" F2.transition：過渡，轉變 / A$ z$ Q I2 r+ w0 J0 @ " F5 B0 q2 A5 m2 n1 h; B" O7 G& R3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 : R3 N9 \0 r1 u7 M' r& o! I6 \& r # @+ C/ f3 j: q●狗老師的啟示… 6 R7 s( s! N1 a3 l B+ Z+ v; h: O, q* Q4 H: P: S) n
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:) W) w# ?" O- l: X2 M8 U0 d
+ Q" X2 b: I7 o- |+ H# Q3 O6 D記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： 9 q: \- V& `7 t1 `) C+ s6 Q H `9 c
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.+ I; n& Q; Y" E9 [2 W
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。/ N$ O: y; ?. z: V( r. ?% ]
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 5 w0 @3 _6 R2 v3 H. O6 M; R% w; m2 ~. L: I8 L& Z
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。# Z! f" q: m, \7 ^8 V. I8 `3 T
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.: D2 {, q9 R4 O# Z& F6 R" b: N' p ?0 U
4 F/ S- O a9 V" d' B7 t3 J隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 E" E: Z, Q) y* H0 t) T # x& H0 H/ B) rWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. : V* Q0 r. m$ D& e0 |( [) E8 O* C$ B: |2 Z
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。8 M- D% {- G9 V; O
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Be loyal.6 X; r$ L% G; h z! U+ s0 G
- i G% f' }9 V2 H, @5 k忠誠。 / D( V7 s7 ^8 m ! P* N/ L2 E7 h+ O! v4 @Never pretend to be something you're not. 1 O: B) v8 l# \+ |" W + P; a/ w) j. ^8 I* a永遠不假裝。 # `# q2 x3 a) R% _1 J: ?0 |5 p4 @' H$ U: T
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.+ I# w. @6 H: z' W& Z( i! B2 \
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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。 - {4 u# D0 K- {; @+ x8 H( f0 b6 T, V ! H$ v/ A0 u! T/ m. Z8 n* PRead 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 ~" ?8 F" K' ]* H% c' f# e