& x3 B# Q" p! W7 p4 hBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. - y, Z+ R M8 L: d3 K 0 ]3 ], @& Y1 ?; [4 [4 h& K2 y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。 0 F$ b, j8 ~" t j9 g, C; I4 } I g V- c% H( m
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.% v8 O% y6 D, q) \. c
; c1 U- D( s! c* I* J
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。 / f, i2 F2 o9 [1 b9 R & k9 g, `5 q' ~' QI 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. ( v" ~0 L1 W0 h4 M" H. ?9 U/ g$ x2 y& C7 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。 1 j! |2 R( n4 P" u# h% i a% z8 A X" n( U g
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. , S/ \) b: T" h% F' x5 S. N; i $ I9 ?- E2 |" Y1 F$ V$ [ c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。& ^7 q! z7 C5 }+ f8 e& l; a) B$ h
5 _% u/ A8 N/ R- E6 h
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.) _8 O9 O, F" B1 l- X
+ w# W' A$ y8 r+ K% n! G9 ^& x+ 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。 " e l9 P& B9 W# D/ e' l9 I7 c: m7 J6 ^. U+ }5 z2 H
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.' C0 A7 o" o& O; F2 y# D
% ~: s2 s3 L, i8 u! g e8 h
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。 & ~" n, W# C D: |" |) E4 R# v1 r ; ~! K4 p7 W0 S; YShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." % q, _0 D& S0 Y1 T+ w0 w : A+ F' @ Y( J8 f9 X% I7 g# _靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」9 h( u" `2 \/ u# L5 l7 X8 Q
! g5 V) f# V- e. [ XStartled, 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?") H& o: A! z' c) X
) o* v5 k6 O7 E8 z% ?* U8 K. r
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？」- Z. a0 v; g% m1 c8 j& R
]0 i* J, R6 h% n6 e* ?. |/ Q1 z* `3 G
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com), j# Q! K( R/ K
7 ^8 H8 P# x/ c% z& G" KRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:9 x( x$ @0 z. U0 \2 a3 @# D) E
% g5 {7 V5 z! ^& p5 R: |3 ? I; I
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： f `5 J/ q+ i7 O7 m: L; k5 f* P* s3 A
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. % h+ b% M( R+ a% h0 y * [8 N `: y, O' K, v+ t當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 & }" w8 z4 Y+ V7 k9 S 3 V: D* A6 A9 ?( r% i' }Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.3 |2 j0 Y$ s+ r* C' W$ {
0 p2 V4 W7 S: d% b( |
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 9 f4 {. m- H, z+ p3 k0 b$ C8 J \/ e% e8 h8 _; X% {# ~$ ^) Q' g
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.- I; E3 m4 _6 }9 T
& m- a" y% a/ y8 Y: x- {1 F
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。+ e p2 t6 n% H) P- k* M
" i2 T. W4 D w6 F- `6 I- XWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.* g$ p- k' x) R& y( M) O" T
7 K' K- }0 w3 E. S高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。, _& P# U# P3 c( M+ c' s
9 P, |! f2 t: D7 V" P! |
Be loyal. * @0 k% }9 @0 ]& V9 ]( E9 h. o; Q( F3 n( X9 a
忠誠。' I6 ~* m4 Q+ K; r
" T5 K7 Y4 L4 `! ~# dNever pretend to be something you're not. 6 J$ l! f2 H8 M" L4 Z) j' s. A0 U1 v0 C
永遠不假裝。3 h G. h6 V0 m
8 ?, p1 W% P: F7 B" yWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.; B% t, L1 R3 v6 \$ y$ U2 G" u: i
" X1 B; O! X- l: h6 V. g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。& k0 Q- t7 Z+ g% C+ E2 B