- q5 G+ g7 w4 M( i+ S. `& t: X( rBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 3 P3 o; T, x d6 r" \6 G: `7 h 0 [$ ]% @* k3 p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。; N$ u5 J1 {/ R
1 D+ O# I9 b1 @5 m) S! L, YThe 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 B) P7 a4 k5 }# d4 d8 j) K) `, l I/ } K% g1 c1 {6 V6 g* f
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。 ; H$ @$ S V8 a3 [# O- X1 A6 J, G7 j5 R# B5 W7 n( c. ^8 ^9 P
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.# d! `% I$ x( V Q! W7 }* `4 r
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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。% w0 i) }+ h+ P) r9 o8 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.* P! |. s: u0 ]% F6 p6 o
% S4 q' f" s$ o6 `, X$ k* V# }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.7 Q! l6 i$ |) r
5 V/ {) V! _7 u' v, d& bThe 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 A6 p& X! u! T% z$ Q' e1 H( J( [; x6 C7 U8 D
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。 5 r# w& d8 y6 y+ d4 M4 V+ g# \9 D9 |2 p
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." ( c1 `) h* w) T, e9 ] ( P! a, ~0 q6 J$ p# U5 M3 Z靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」& @2 h- S* A5 E( q+ I7 {& g, l1 I) Q
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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?" : y4 C, \& D1 e3 O) [6 Y* p + e) c( p# h9 Y; h1 ~5 c" I" m5 [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 ^ M2 C2 p3 [
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The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com), W$ t$ W d: H2 x
- ]% Y7 v0 h3 B+ E( y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 n( {+ m% ?% a. V& e3 Z ?" m; I# Y, u9 p詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死/ X& s% C3 K6 l/ Y
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2.transition：過渡，轉變 ! ~. S# U( u; u5 F5 d+ M+ W1 J; h/ G e
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 $ \' k; B; Q% k0 k3 X. B8 t& |' w1 q6 y" A
●狗老師的啟示… ; J9 l8 f4 A- L/ H8 I9 Y 2 {- O& |3 }4 l* V2 l# `Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:) H7 H+ q7 J7 g) c
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記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：9 a: i" M# \0 r
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. ! u1 u& O8 _5 Q 8 o* j! A& p+ X. B, T6 U: k o當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 . @$ `6 I4 s4 W1 x0 e+ T 7 c6 S, T6 s7 T- Q5 ^. m) b5 qNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 8 _) E$ e1 L* J* X# J/ T8 D5 W& @* y! A( z. i S: Z
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 7 `3 S* ]% p9 o8 b/ U t# p$ Z) B2 X1 I0 z
Thrive on attention and let people touch you. 7 A2 G* F0 m+ c v0 X' c. X4 m- a4 b9 Y' s" V隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 9 [9 q7 O+ B% k, k 8 I) V7 q5 C" x' z& Z* zWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 5 D |$ g- [ N6 T) w+ T" Y9 h* b# Q, n0 t. \- G2 o2 x5 y% }
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。5 Z7 d. S3 R$ Z' d% M
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Be loyal. % r. g3 {' \: a' G : j. v6 R+ s; D: ?, c; u忠誠。( r. e% @0 `% N" l( g4 D5 C- a* `
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Never pretend to be something you're not. 0 k- o7 b- y& [% M/ { E' U1 i, i3 j9 i6 A# J2 j$ R
永遠不假裝。/ f e% t$ j+ }2 C) F0 F) K. a3 c
( v6 O/ k1 a8 _! b3 W5 p+ MWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.! E: c4 o3 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。 ( _+ c6 o3 Y+ z7 o: S* Q8 ^ N6 s+ N d2 |% t- J8 B
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9 P6 e' a$ ~% l- L; J; M