: h! M" O, z) C" K( \/ v. i2 CBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. ]2 |5 p; S7 }
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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。/ \9 d0 q5 E J
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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.( H0 h) I0 b. t! E/ e, p
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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 q a, o/ ]1 o( m& @: [
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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. 1 I( w3 M! o" k& e. }7 a 8 D- i7 |' o+ M$ l( l# m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。 4 `" ?, A3 f" Z0 j( B4 R% p1 {$ N ! s- e* q0 |" k: X x, f) yAs 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. % D8 [) j, D; A5 q* S 3 L1 g* [/ @( m. X; [/ Q8 u @8 _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。* V' c' |! r9 u7 q6 y0 W
) @$ m* P% ] s0 B d4 Q( TThe 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.! ~8 S& X+ A) v! @! s* e
( D2 Q6 |* M4 D/ G7 N, F+ A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。4 i. i: E# j$ p% d* M/ P$ H. `: _& @
! W4 u9 O0 z1 C3 l! G0 }( e* S( UThe 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. ; f( Q6 B, o/ b1 h) B $ c8 g( g; P; ]7 f- }% s1 N8 r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。0 c, E: k- X( v! |7 k. P% m& i. u8 j
% f4 }# c. l3 C+ s, E3 hShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." 3 v& W( D0 ~' \8 A" D% W0 o" L- _+ {
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 & K) N2 h, k. s1 c; @& X ' @' u8 ^% G" oStartled, 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?" ' p) g; ~( Q% f: b4 C - e# A" {3 I y4 |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？」 - ] U" J5 C0 X! V9 B) x 1 Z( i2 f C8 XThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com): W; s( m6 n( e3 \: A2 F
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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) ) k8 f0 z0 l, n, ?8 L! O. M( ]1 S+ w6 U2 R
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 ! W( f! a6 m t5 g; _ - s" a" j5 z. t' ?' r2 ~, H2.transition：過渡，轉變 3 c; p7 H5 o; Z' X: v) R D, ]/ R4 ^3 g
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出# y. n0 w: l% f3 b3 b
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●狗老師的啟示… ! Q( t& M" Z* C: d) f* C$ c" T( c& I0 h8 w/ h
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 2 O; G0 w. B- k' Y% q! ^" L p& D t* k# O; q
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： 6 m; q5 Y+ Y9 K( E 1 p' T. i0 j: I+ {0 C; m) EWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them. & e! y4 U3 v6 Y# b4 E ( m, J! `2 ]) ^0 b1 k" d: u當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 $ w. I! x" C( Q2 E& W ( O( N% x! D: @* s( INever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.- O* {" e, q+ n$ z" R& W
: N% i% ?/ c: m永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 ( X8 x M& {9 z' p( h+ P% H# Z1 f, m( P/ q5 S
Thrive on attention and let people touch you. ( `! k2 U, z2 `) O) U( n! N d- g O; T# [3 Q, @& T
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。8 y% ]- B/ X! r8 o8 [! V
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. , }3 j8 [3 R, s& T . K6 Z8 L# h) o9 Y高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 , c2 r% s* Z# z6 p6 f4 I- J 4 Y4 E/ f! Z: w) FBe loyal. ) \2 d' R# n$ ~1 b; y 0 e; {: p: Z; o0 N! p' @" ]忠誠。 6 C% \& q) C4 H. f4 y8 I: V5 H3 z: n$ `1 o6 b
Never pretend to be something you're not. $ i8 r- K2 E4 x' u- v8 j! `. d) Z ) O9 p b7 O- T: |+ |永遠不假裝。' y# ?( m$ D" h/ E; v
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. o! g* W( m3 Y
) C' m1 l2 x, M$ j$ }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。2 h. v7 m8 Z6 F! c, \4 Z
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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9 F; G! U2 _! n# y" f/ N0 P