( r7 T3 d( R6 |$ kBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.5 Q5 K! M+ g0 }% s, c! j' K) F: w
; V3 g& O; E- c7 j" W9 l0 k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 t- I" D" S9 S7 E. T
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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.+ v0 U/ e% R0 v( x, l
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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。0 C) ~ n; f$ L% s
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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.; c3 R7 g2 o' v# U$ ]4 }
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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。 ( ^6 T" w. n+ K5 Q* I4 }4 O. w( K/ H5 a
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.7 f0 L+ R3 \ r, o
0 L/ E0 H% r5 P5 o L3 l0 z4 R, H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。# `0 V3 |# Q& D6 p8 s* k9 n
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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./ Z" M# P- Y( ^& j4 U
G8 q- R, K0 [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。 # ]; Q+ Q9 g! s. m+ U# W ) S* T7 `3 Z7 B9 g7 kThe 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.5 x+ d& i4 Z- g; C8 V# [; Q" B6 _
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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。 - H6 Y! l$ ]9 U. J # [' n, _! W0 q' }6 |Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." . O% E. C1 V: \+ i9 o; l& k7 O- f1 W0 n8 _0 N
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」: `8 O7 G0 e% J# c% J' ~" F
4 U1 Y4 d- d) ]: gStartled, 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?"( F5 c8 `2 |9 Z( B, V! S Y# f: [
6 C, i9 ]4 s3 ?7 h( p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& B7 f" K/ d" \0 M) J0 V( q2 k
# C% o- o0 U1 J. z. y0 C: kThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) ! D; u% F, \0 ]+ t( }; g : }4 V6 B4 N5 x. x: P+ l, e8 C- Z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 S: ^% l7 P0 i
: a- O) _ R8 g/ P O詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死+ J8 A4 t/ v `* ?7 v
5 m0 x* U2 @! O' `2.transition：過渡，轉變 6 k2 _/ ^: j7 W7 J& ^! v" ^- k# q. q
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 % m. k' E. F. N. c7 ], g% g4 B8 t+ ?/ K8 H3 l
●狗老師的啟示…! ^3 }# a7 L2 C9 |' g
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ) k# q' w" D$ r$ J# Z k, @( Z" i1 I- J1 X% F
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： + J# j7 \ m% h, R# t / p7 x1 I! ]& j, o, _When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. : D+ O& G/ P+ X) J7 B2 X* o& Y# W& P& j+ W+ y: T5 D- x! }
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。6 k& G ]# ]. R4 z. `
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.8 `$ a6 Z4 t# M% v
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 $ {/ @9 K; u& n# f4 x T6 F7 u/ Y& k* K" z* T8 T9 ]" H! D
Thrive on attention and let people touch you. 5 n4 }( f( d; u' c- E3 h j0 J$ ^1 O% s. f" @
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。4 |) g3 u# s. ?1 l6 T- I9 `
! T8 n9 `: X+ J" ?% J! \0 f- hWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 7 W- J" J9 Q* A2 ^3 q+ U' L 8 |: u0 `- `" H! x" \1 M高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。% ]! l( `" R6 X; {5 D8 K& N& g
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Be loyal. % i+ A9 K8 r- h# o6 r4 P j, m8 i7 {! e
忠誠。5 x# ~" h2 ?/ g7 m) @+ U
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Never pretend to be something you're not. 9 I( A8 z" V- ]0 Q0 B, L5 Y, m* u+ R1 Q6 ~; C) E. d; A
永遠不假裝。* v0 M3 q: b+ G1 f- j3 p
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.* N! W+ n( s S# n' r, S8 }* ^! x! c
/ I4 ?; n: {5 i, o6 D8 L6 ~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。0 P1 E) [- G" X9 v( q, p }: {
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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 2 }) a. A/ a/ \. w* H- V' u