0 }! _; y, ? X- ^7 }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." ?6 ~. z5 z" J- l8 D6 c. C/ F
5 d B/ k3 ]1 l0 O% VBelker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。 6 r: g7 `% n5 Y3 M5 v' u5 G5 e8 k! }0 y
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. 5 j6 i% Q8 t3 Y9 u, L & p- F* B' L. c, i$ 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。* ?' r( [4 ?- ~# g# }' C0 }
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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.# Q- r' g1 T6 B. k, E* a3 H
) i# H( f, g3 g! }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。 / m) v4 l% S, n- O9 p: }1 B; I2 h% T, b/ X6 y( @6 t" ^
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. " u) k/ }! K3 I- \* m2 Z" M1 b" L5 v2 W" K* k, s) A3 m) P( g+ i
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。0 x: c( S. i v2 p" m
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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.& e2 C2 Q0 f, j3 u" O# V
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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。 ! p% Y6 v5 J& e+ v" D5 g9 C" L* y- o1 L; k3 R
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."2 s+ K0 B9 F, s& I8 @) K+ x- n
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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。」3 I5 k, F _2 Y" X# h3 t
0 K: c- D( Q3 ~2 S7 c+ YStartled, 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?" $ V/ y+ j9 N$ n9 H' }) ^9 |% I2 T( j1 {% m! l8 n5 a6 i1 Q
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？」 3 f- l9 A0 J" I; l2 l; W5 B, c7 ~$ h
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)2 n( t, l4 R" }$ n. V+ l
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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) & o/ j& N( \' p9 V w. F- e3 R / K* z' p6 R( Z: ~! W詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死) c& x$ R) T! C% h
' {2 s# U5 f! H: i6 U' N●狗老師的啟示…. V4 T' f' C! y4 e' Q6 T
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:; o4 s0 d- K3 ^0 O% \
( R: A) |" k. H4 N) H記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： * P t! \9 Y4 K X: k $ F0 M+ c2 Z; m. L% L8 O+ Z" WWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them. & o+ n* _+ A3 T5 D' r8 ]0 V9 J3 Z0 A: s9 l
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。1 Z9 X9 x8 ^. C8 S: o/ q
6 {/ D( y9 l1 }- D A& g( M0 RNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. $ r1 M$ Q) B0 `6 [% v) U * {- w+ z9 g# R8 r! H永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 - _6 h i" N2 T. w H 8 k$ _& Z, \8 S# x- D, }: ZThrive on attention and let people touch you.7 i9 g6 e# d: N8 ~: F" C
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 7 i* f% m1 F5 G( u; [ r, w) W( Q; x" l& {
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.2 ]* {+ P) @ q, \
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 - `. m: v l1 k9 A: e& i1 r5 _7 Z/ L v: c0 U9 r6 A& P
Be loyal.* k% M. y F5 V8 E# Y
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忠誠。* S! L/ z. v$ s, W7 V
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Never pretend to be something you're not. ( |5 `5 v9 I2 |/ r w, R5 Q9 V$ x* A; S' ~5 W0 d0 E
永遠不假裝。 R# D8 f0 [8 G, E3 F + _! T2 G B0 u4 VWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.' _9 [7 M0 W$ S" H+ t, d7 H