& K7 T. O9 P, U4 Y/ ~Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. * U9 U: h7 _+ q# e: | ) n# |- h2 d9 W$ K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。8 E2 M3 S+ ?, p! s# O x
3 \5 K. R* } r) j5 F5 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. $ S9 q, I1 t2 ]% U. B8 T) c4 F; T$ V/ @8 [
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 s3 E* O! t$ n+ D: { : y t/ \1 ]0 ]0 `+ a7 K, ?& vI 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. - t. o: I" O$ k4 |0 Q 1 I. d+ \4 R: ], m1 f" ^& X5 q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。5 m0 _( Y+ D2 a' r$ A+ E. ?& Y
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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. # v2 E- f1 N$ h- {0 ~6 z! ?% {4 A0 @2 N8 H
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。4 x; W3 z& W h8 ~& u* d5 N3 S* M
3 E, x+ |* g( | C3 c0 I8 `8 UThe 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.# i2 D, D* y# N/ a+ `8 r
( w8 M+ T5 H2 N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。 : w% F0 }! g1 A& m' T# J& m3 q1 a! U# w* v5 M
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. 3 t" `( @0 D# ^% B% v" [/ h $ H0 L: Y& t* d D* O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 j3 W: S3 i c, e9 B( v5 ]
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." + h) K6 O# D: b 8 J6 b8 T0 s0 @& L+ B靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」$ ~/ Q, Y5 e& m: v- q6 ?
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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?" # u" ~# s% T2 U O n; m' i( {* m% W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？」" y) Z1 p3 {% `0 r8 E
( e, d( E, B6 F9 T% D" WThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)' K: i1 `: Y1 r" d- D! b
9 q, R1 K8 u; V# \* q8 S1 n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)' y, ]& k0 O5 y9 Y/ j# s8 f
f9 D1 C' @( ~; v& aRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: $ c5 I0 ?1 E8 i2 [) t* b . f5 Y) K5 m! i2 e2 g- I& ^6 C記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： : m6 S& D# h" R 3 T# e7 s3 T, H: k$ r9 TWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 6 P1 D+ y' v9 k9 F) T2 U# d( e0 I4 s: {4 y1 C& p9 T$ g- [
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 6 ]7 O& z: p* ~' [+ o8 E' d3 Y E6 w
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 6 P J2 W. O1 _* E, M; y3 B) e$ u. j1 K+ b' Q% c9 i& k, T
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 / `( M; l( h5 E3 W: e8 I- o+ I: \# V$ _' y1 O. d
Thrive on attention and let people touch you. 8 B- Y; m- ~2 z6 ]% p% `: m . b7 |% a. X* P9 F$ C; R, H0 C3 u2 m* [' N隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 9 h( C$ T; N; e( A9 q; K# R S, c8 ^) Z: D$ j
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.$ ?) a6 Z$ S+ e8 o$ O, v0 c5 d
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。6 |- f% `9 w# O' S, W
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Be loyal. 1 b/ i% W! G! e5 g7 d , O8 P' _3 v# @9 M忠誠。# }8 ~4 p" |, b& L9 C# r
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Never pretend to be something you're not.3 B) p# C& Z2 ^* p8 G
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永遠不假裝。 ; D7 t2 Z' r5 i/ u3 ?( P7 R) q7 l4 f( z; H" `# j
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. - q! P, R. g. [' s# {5 _/ r7 L# `! t! U' k n
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。 " b' ~8 x+ b3 x# P+ A" y1 F! n* Z
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