7 d" g3 `$ D/ oBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. , r3 ^7 C S- O4 u& e3 ^+ C8 {8 k7 J( G! L$ \: L% b% x
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。 . l' o. G C; G' O N4 P4 L7 K' I- N4 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.8 x/ W( y0 E3 p5 B8 I
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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。 ) W* p3 ?3 r/ j$ v# M, g( l, U) L; k0 l% F! Q- D
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. j0 y# g4 m5 W3 x! [! J
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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。 , ]- M. v d2 w) x0 D# X/ G % A5 s0 `3 u/ H1 I1 k1 aAs 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 B$ `) F/ c) T* h& N
/ p9 H. D. ^. q% ]% K7 O5 b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。 ( q( }1 O! `8 O' g2 ]# [. u1 i, W. _
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.# R& I+ t! `% j4 V
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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 j n% T O3 ^
) p4 p$ v+ ?# _/ S! s0 oThe 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. 7 a* a/ G; F4 N" J3 N5 |6 \! a7 y: R3 U9 c |, @
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。 ' `7 p V, u, }! n) O 7 |0 r4 I8 c. {$ x5 s( ^6 {: T: m7 oShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." * N X3 D2 G n l: q9 g / ^. M0 U5 {& U1 D& d9 i靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」% l# B) m& |1 P3 ~# _: E7 H
$ U( P% r8 Y/ ?) {2 B; k _5 I& c0 sStartled, 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?" " A% ^5 `2 e; S2 }( G" ?' B4 x, Q . B ?( v: @3 f4 K/ y# \$ Q% l* s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？」) ]- z6 t/ M L& G- n' s* d
. C3 x6 W" D2 {- `7 a0 c6 dThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)4 i1 h" g) y* z# _8 C1 m: i
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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) 6 Z+ ]7 w8 j' u7 D$ g' X* {9 ~7 V. T+ a
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 ! b4 P; N' V- [& j4 P; p# S' O- t1 t # D% t! m' q# H. t" S2.transition：過渡，轉變) A. b8 W: O% f& B0 d
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3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出) p r% I6 [0 h- }1 _
% Q; W& C, i# \& g* r. q/ c●狗老師的啟示… # p R! B& y8 e0 z& o0 P + I, Z% f M jRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: - _: s9 H* |' p/ H/ x4 b' b; s; H6 Z6 {/ [6 O
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： ( W+ S* A8 H' y) r* c7 M$ ^1 w# s+ v; n: G2 A* q- e
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them./ V0 W! h& c$ G7 c
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 ) R/ p4 `6 i# b1 r, n" A0 u+ y6 a/ y' L z3 c4 {5 l7 ^1 s r
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.! ]/ i; R2 p, X
* v# N4 q4 T* H4 ? _- o永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 # F( ]; K1 f" r 1 H+ p) o" f7 [0 ?% NThrive on attention and let people touch you.9 f# g0 o2 T+ `9 \2 p- |
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。/ D9 z% l/ D" t) A: N, E* s, S
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.3 _: L8 ~9 z' T/ C) T
/ R8 X9 \9 n4 L% w# r# M5 U6 _高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。0 M2 K, h8 U7 ]
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Be loyal. ' u. M2 a0 `/ ]( l( M6 F' W' ]( C
忠誠。 + }1 E: k; o5 s' d1 ^4 t4 Q+ J/ P + F. I9 G) [# B) |! ?5 V. GNever pretend to be something you're not. 8 v5 ?4 X u, X+ ^$ d( _5 N0 [1 C! F# u B, j B7 b. E" u7 ^
永遠不假裝。 * l7 Q# O, h1 v# B. y; U8 a: @ & J# {7 K4 d1 b# x2 O9 CWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.* d8 ?0 E7 R- Z) c0 n2 u
3 [% t# A. E* T! W2 H& F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。 7 s) O+ r6 K9 t / `& i8 Y% H/ Y v, Q0 R8 C% ERead 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0 E) O3 e, Z: i9 W