+ u3 p6 z2 I! O% g f5 EBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.& F( g4 r g' @$ W* l
! o! z- i0 s* R$ E- y- k0 Q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 ^7 m/ ?) W, E; t % B+ i. Z. M4 v) g7 ?7 QThe 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.: F$ g" `+ p, O6 W
4 s' n$ m* w+ x. l% p) xBelker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。 $ \' ~# o% q4 G' W+ U3 P# C3 U0 p+ w
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. ) g" U$ w" z8 h1 d7 P0 j3 e6 d4 h, B3 x5 x; F+ h: h
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。, y, L- F0 x$ D1 t' W8 P
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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." Q2 K M) a7 o f# M
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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 @2 q3 m K( I" U7 Q2 ?9 x3 R8 i2 s* W' d3 q/ r4 B
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. + X) v7 [& T' x. O& Q+ [: I0 {% a) B$ m/ P
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。) ^1 L- p; S% m9 M/ O( q3 G9 }
e8 [* I2 N6 r5 |! P4 sThe 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.# j( H8 ]! X0 m6 z7 M
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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" J6 C" ~7 T & |, p) f& q6 i5 D' _Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."; C5 p/ _' |& z. {2 _# ^
/ L- J* J) n5 R5 ?" N% [靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 $ |# J4 ^. C6 c, I! o) {% Q5 N3 H# }- j. ~" V" H2 n( a* j
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?" ?$ i- E* K u3 v3 H
, e/ X h: n" DThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) ( z% F+ W& O* z, R% p 3 Y# D* O [. B6 s$ c$ `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)" O3 F, J4 V) z
* _; E7 ]+ a h D- G# Z詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死/ i( ?, O: G4 _$ z' b5 p" L
4 u8 l/ t& a- q5 h( ]) k8 I% R, @) m3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 " h, a! r! k2 `* W$ @ 8 [: f5 c1 q! X9 C: j7 U●狗老師的啟示… 2 p% q3 @& b$ g" y' c' k; Y7 U7 y* f9 s, ^! a- W* o
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:& d5 N3 K9 c$ @- U# C( V
2 V+ x& @- b+ `6 |( F記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： 2 T. s( c* L! q% p5 V3 X 2 J9 [2 s2 E( H/ yWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.8 m! q7 h3 d0 L; P" B+ `' C
9 f: K9 I/ `! p. o3 t2 y8 z當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 ) `. c9 y }. K% s* l( Q! ~6 C. h X4 c8 y
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. : t+ `. ]5 E. a% E! h; D, ?" y ! s f8 r2 F6 J( q* y% h: [永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 + \' v/ S- a5 d: n ? j& ~( H6 D) cThrive on attention and let people touch you.0 _! w8 O6 X8 p& x+ J
! u8 S$ X( M: @8 |. f隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 * @9 ?! X6 J, k4 s6 d& A' h% h- H+ M0 e
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. : ~# G* Y* b7 G3 r7 j# Z- W; P# D( t" N$ Q) r5 O! G+ y8 B
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。- A$ O8 c" m7 O
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Be loyal. 5 n* n7 Z9 q! M! h% j' M% t% p3 m4 x# o9 G
忠誠。 1 {, B( T! f" N, } P {, U; ^ XNever pretend to be something you're not., \: d9 V D" U0 T6 H4 H
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永遠不假裝。4 g5 Q/ l* w" g! r- P5 } g+ O
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.* W; I, _1 w. S) a, B2 f( ?
% b6 ?$ h2 L$ ?! D% G/ g- B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。 , j" A z5 p$ Y, k" n+ }6 M, j# d# S. O/ [8 G# N
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