- q* }) {/ h- o' T, RBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.8 |1 v6 k. t1 m9 y4 }! }$ ] k
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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。% `' p, J: R* a: J. n
# @2 x* a, l& s+ l/ H% Y }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. : O6 O- [2 o0 x. [; z' b. \- Z6 q' e8 L0 E! C- N3 o N
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。; E# G& Q2 S7 X- Y$ `# B+ ?
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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. ' X$ j1 d0 j" B' l$ n+ @+ X) M1 T 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。3 j2 a* C- i/ x- q2 N
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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.* F u+ ~8 E* Z$ j% [/ M
6 B+ Q S/ s$ c" x: P- ^1 O1 _; f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。) {; O% }: g; c3 k& D1 N' q
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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.3 P) h6 v6 N6 r! u+ A% U; ^* t E
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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。' I% g8 i8 k! E6 x
' l5 g, ?1 i5 c$ zThe 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 R6 p- c" \, K; e
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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。 ' J. {0 C! R# e# N 1 P8 |0 B- z/ n) S h6 j/ N! kShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."4 {: y2 ]) w7 A: a+ _5 b6 l0 @
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靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 0 G" _: G# f4 F- c6 |( N3 k " _% l$ k9 z0 a" \5 k$ oStartled, 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?"+ q4 X p9 S. v$ w7 Q
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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？」 # R5 f$ V7 k a+ E- j8 Q ' m5 `' U# m1 FThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)6 Z& |& ]* J, B2 \# B2 b
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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)0 D; S+ D+ c$ Y, c6 I, W$ r% y+ E8 } }
: k4 Q0 I2 l: }6 }# E詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 : K! J6 p1 U8 U& m3 B - }/ q* }, [; R# x C2.transition：過渡，轉變* z( L7 m/ E2 Z) i/ P
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3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出0 {. f' q2 Q/ a! a
3 Z+ t5 r+ P& J●狗老師的啟示…# O# E4 w2 C! [& S( l
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: - E) R- {( G+ C9 m- F) p) A( i5 z. q" L4 o2 T u( L9 s- c( z
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： q. H0 ^% `: p2 I6 X1 b! ]" e$ l- m" x
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.* u% J7 Y, R! S8 a) n, c9 i: `
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 8 o0 I4 x' p$ p# Z9 l , G$ G" F; }9 z& QNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. . M1 h T; V, V f: y4 _ K$ v7 S0 G: L4 }8 d8 u9 U. V7 n2 R
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 & O3 U+ ]9 h+ z1 P. b: n9 D1 F 1 e" Q8 Z4 h' D6 C- [' ]' DThrive on attention and let people touch you.& R: E0 ?, ]. \2 _! z
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。1 x! W4 M& H @$ h2 ?
. J. t1 @- v- O. A( F$ Y6 p: {When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.* D6 ?5 z" ]* K) K
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 " F1 e$ B6 E7 L$ F( z5 B! B( R# k; N: U7 S1 {7 q% j9 C v' z
Be loyal.1 \1 z+ d' Q7 c0 H1 z* t
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忠誠。 $ N/ U2 {8 I& u' v) @* J1 f5 ^0 `1 ]
Never pretend to be something you're not.8 U! F; H V! k2 N$ f2 Q$ M
, r6 ~8 S; D/ Z) g \9 Q永遠不假裝。 ' D6 x; L1 ?6 U' V6 C( @3 G- j( N( ~ m5 a3 Q/ f \$ d9 N
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. ?0 D2 F6 R! L' s 0 l a$ c' m1 m9 t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。. E3 Y+ a2 j8 {8 a" B6 V% m. C9 |
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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 # T9 _/ f' U; f8 O- V9 u6 _