/ H3 s6 T: l3 A( |. I$ U6 Q4 o1 {Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 5 _# `; _' @- W! G3 \; ]. S$ _* L9 E/ c3 D4 w
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。 5 \# L) F* P7 L* b5 ^ $ h/ S& e" z& C/ o7 UThe 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. 1 z& o$ C$ G( y$ c) L7 c R ' \6 n& \+ p, d9 w* ]0 SBelker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。 / e' J7 s8 `' c: C( j' s* k* S/ Z' r1 F9 `. ]) Q! f# E
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.4 d# f; i# v7 A1 H% \5 u) T
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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。5 m1 c- c. Z/ G+ b7 G* d+ Q4 w! r
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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. / b a5 [0 T$ M5 \5 b & V) K# c' R% a+ k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。 W f2 [" r1 f( ~4 i6 ~ 9 y8 ~/ ]+ l ~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.. z. }: `: d& A; V+ u% ?: A L% K
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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。 8 h3 y+ ^' a& b' R* E7 ^- c$ _& h- H& B
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., H2 z9 T$ g H( L, M& G
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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。 7 K, q' v% w' I/ O0 }$ t9 p/ S/ @ / b- o/ N. c, j: }& ~ eShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." + e; t; O0 m( u6 b8 U* ?1 L, M) A8 A( G$ [( B: e( D, I& ~; l l* 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。」: A$ a6 n& V! x. J) H& F' w
1 [7 \( I- ~2 r* j0 TStartled, 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?" 1 i$ v4 Z& J* s 7 o4 \1 T3 R* N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？」 . C0 x3 B4 A) a; U1 [+ ~1 G6 y ' z, A- D! n2 Z# }0 xThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)% w& n; y" F' V6 c
; V2 _& s) i- B5 u I- E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* `: |# ]* j& v! S. \# v: M: O 1 E; t8 F! s) K& r+ V( {詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 ) E) _) M; _7 ?3 r% a, {$ x, \' F; P! Z. _" ~
2.transition：過渡，轉變 # w( L7 x/ X* S V8 X8 n% g ' Y$ G4 d5 f* E' S3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出( i% n; H1 z& W
9 T' L e. b7 b' x, C●狗老師的啟示…) s4 B/ o! F1 j, [
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: - N+ p3 v7 C4 L" y, x4 [! r, ~ g" f7 P, W! _8 q, C+ S7 X
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： : q5 Q& e; s5 g; G7 X3 L8 K7 `( @, M6 h+ p: k5 ^) C" Q
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. " R( T, ^- v6 L) S2 |, `% N* C6 b & ~7 G2 v/ E8 k* b/ P當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。( h. N5 w$ B, J( Y8 e
& L" R: B8 B/ zNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.4 y. q9 G, Y. {9 f9 u t
# T3 D1 n j \' A& U4 x永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。' D# b2 O7 m! Y3 Y
. p) |8 V. U# P( a, A' s6 hThrive on attention and let people touch you., _' {* v+ p# k8 `- }6 c
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 ' w; Z, ~& g) N, s5 w5 s% H: V% \3 ?2 k, A+ w
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. ; Q( V8 o& B* G; h+ L$ s. [; n S( @& v I$ H" y
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。* [, O4 |9 l2 f* i
4 [7 v6 I* }% r' K) p* g4 i* ?2 }Be loyal. + d: r& H( h- q) a+ p& w6 L4 ]4 R6 B4 L. i7 Q
忠誠。* x& D X1 [+ S( ~
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Never pretend to be something you're not.* P2 i1 p9 Y+ J; Y
, u! @0 G) u" K" ]" f6 E( k永遠不假裝。 7 x- D& c q2 Q4 G" z- w, {/ s$ c0 J, B0 |# j Y" A6 B
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.4 a9 h9 t9 ]8 g. u
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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。 Y$ `. O7 I$ c1 o( a' h& p 9 `1 }, E% u* E% gRead 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 1 Y- @6 C/ |$ \