+ u4 g1 h; A2 l! M& `$ U: aBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.: P) K) c! r6 j- i0 W. r8 K4 g: Z
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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。 6 y0 D. {' b# l- y; V3 U5 P8 F8 I& h, A/ Y8 o
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.. d6 u# k' I/ D ?' m" o- 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。5 x( e8 B& U; s+ ~( n" r4 `
3 b \0 X# N; @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 s6 Z% Q* H5 f3 p4 |2 ]" ~8 r+ m3 P& z " @7 R1 z' r( B/ f' V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。 3 { }, L5 x8 j* j0 j. d , ], p4 Z. {: m- A$ GAs 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. 1 h$ p, @; v, A* ?) L" W$ ]% I" i$ c5 k0 t: K7 k6 ~4 l
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。& | } s5 ]; a) k
+ S& p4 E5 r, r) ]2 b- E; zThe 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- I9 J2 g' _# ~
2 u% i+ k- C3 _4 O$ |+ ?+ ]& U6 s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。" a4 S3 {; c# Y; E$ ?% Q
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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.% p2 _! o, N8 U$ {9 @
: o6 t5 F$ a4 V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。 " Z3 e/ \+ l. z* M6 A9 F9 }' F% T# Y i3 N# Z6 I
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." , u; p* w5 K8 J% i5 I+ z/ t. V% D* G* z1 f; T( u
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」3 _- u% i8 d8 W# m6 q5 Q/ Y+ K* ]
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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?" 1 _7 D$ j1 D6 |' R+ D9 k2 M % B- n8 J6 j! a9 V, l% Z( a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？」 ( s2 g8 a" ^0 X' [) S' s1 _7 E: ^9 |# _( m- t% j4 S: O
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)& s# C Z9 S5 a; y: y _
8 ^& H' Z2 e) l4 U" V* q3 W5 c8 ^●狗老師的啟示…9 G4 I. b" b8 T& _( t
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 9 \; e4 ]( k- K2 i8 F+ }$ p Z, c6 R0 H3 ?3 L& `
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： . ~4 z# A& r+ c, d7 K! o$ p, Q- r7 o) R- w' n$ b
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. . s' h H6 s; h* `: K- o% H6 T! g) }6 k
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。& A( B( _ ~/ P' [- }( x2 K# [
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. & h( K6 {; [2 E3 P7 _ - F" e" b5 ]9 {7 P$ `2 Y永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 & ]8 b' h/ q% v' c3 u. N* X4 `+ s3 v, h) a9 o* l3 ?( n
Thrive on attention and let people touch you. ' q- q4 w0 u9 z" D9 y, E* e, `0 R8 l8 H
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 6 L% C# v% D! |6 x 1 X; j3 H7 m* K) P2 rWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 8 f% a6 F. K$ j4 A) V 0 O* ~2 l% L- @3 w* o- `) a. y C高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 . L, n( I9 F$ u/ G& I3 c" Z+ s6 u$ \5 q
Be loyal.- w0 B4 J) g9 w O6 T$ d
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忠誠。 & K- @7 s# D/ Z: d+ h ( m# X! |; B/ h6 S% Q; Y! iNever pretend to be something you're not. W5 j4 F7 P2 `% {- M; m5 b
# h; F' l! b7 ^6 x永遠不假裝。 f7 {8 m5 I8 t7 u, ^3 f5 D9 L ^& w) W& ^5 ?% M' Y5 I+ e
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.! A4 Q" a: X: y) v
/ l0 b# o4 d/ [" E! o: G" Q/ O9 ]. C3 ^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。3 s# E& Y1 t3 j. Y( y6 t