% Y! A' X* Q' B! Z' f- r% j( @Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 7 j* I+ a; V/ _) o- r7 ^3 u; M9 {3 M: I8 Z
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。 ; i, t7 Z( X& h/ J ' S i$ p$ p7 E7 [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 Q4 i. g" Q' S* p# D4 e8 l
c4 S4 d8 ~2 Z, P5 NBelker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。% |$ p7 s/ R: k. a6 b% b' K
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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. 2 J+ _7 P! e( C$ B9 D w5 v1 T: {% Z |! T
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。 % K# m6 {$ P! R4 d ; n; i( R6 z+ k$ Q o, x. c& `, x- {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.+ F1 y$ L1 e) Y7 e9 q3 ?' D0 Z. L
! ~" ]( c9 |! y7 ~4 ~$ `- S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。& i( Y* A# C' s/ R% E3 O
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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. ( w* j$ d, l3 b3 ]! T$ H# K! a A. @8 A; }6 f( r
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。& w9 s! U- |5 q- h) H
- X& P# V1 l& X! K8 b' wThe 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.6 W( v g2 X; Z2 `% ^' d. h# p
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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。: W- R# r- l1 w: ]; Q7 ~( |. Q
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."1 d7 u: v0 ?" U6 V2 o+ L( y0 @# S
: ~) ^" X* h8 u. e; _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?"7 M' Z( G: G/ } z) x A# H' [
) O3 N; c/ I- \9 ~; z/ t/ k: @0 x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？」 5 u2 N* L9 j9 @5 `2 ]6 J, Q; p$ Q( O0 f: X- C4 R3 ^
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) : T* h" Z/ I, C. Z2 Q9 O . |% g- w; L. N# G) Q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) / {* f4 X$ }) U2 y4 m1 F5 r) L- ~/ r# F/ ]9 l3 W6 n/ ^0 s$ L
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死3 g0 M" t! v+ m r: \
/ w8 ]5 X% Q5 {# N●狗老師的啟示…( A6 g$ a/ e8 n) I( N$ f* n
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: + h7 y5 ?, `" g/ Q4 P$ X7 d' I- m& Y3 c5 Y6 M0 o; i/ Q* m/ F
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： 2 s; J' a* H! }5 O8 ^5 e, N( z6 n" p! x4 R
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 5 B, X9 R9 l4 b* b# I4 y 2 h1 `! d4 v' i0 B1 l當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 # M/ |7 n1 d" v; e6 a" @$ z; n$ |/ O9 O
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.$ f% b C0 u/ V4 h% K
M6 y# P# ~, d* ^* c) R* l4 F- R永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。$ r5 u! f. E6 d. Z0 T0 J8 @5 [
: |/ D6 j7 m+ g! H' o2 bThrive on attention and let people touch you.' } D9 _ F! x( L& h4 ?
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 " l$ ? @$ P$ ^; t0 x A4 Q/ l T# B# [. g* wWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 0 m+ j0 [/ [& P/ C! w3 k7 a) y# q
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 8 E E3 Z0 Y; l' I0 R" R( s4 l# K- `) D( Z. Y) L* {
Be loyal. / y) P f' y }9 J5 y8 @9 z/ t8 Q) K* u+ Q: K9 i4 r
忠誠。# W7 w7 J# ^' K
# F8 ?0 V) ~* J' f4 xNever pretend to be something you're not. ' G+ ^; {4 O) d$ g. f & x& U; h: O; Y4 |- K# x! `7 f) `永遠不假裝。 / N9 e: g6 X5 O + O7 J2 b# w5 w5 |When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.: D' w7 d% w$ z6 k/ N& d
* N' Y# A) D- }# D4 N. U3 t4 ?* }. z! R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。 - i5 U! G9 ^% l0 J/ C- e; P 3 I! h A2 t8 Z ]# T. \Read 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 ( a9 e1 `1 }; k9 M! g+ @% D