9 {" K/ C8 \& U4 j9 \Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. * i& _9 J. Q/ W, F8 q! z 4 V9 r' {, j* A' ?) J8 h3 g! _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。 ( C2 K, k7 D5 d+ k" @3 n% B0 p; N! R- Q [1 Y' F6 X( ^' g
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. 2 P+ |: ^- t% g" I7 }- I# Q* t3 K; E/ ~8 p2 t- t* n8 q- @
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。+ y! ^. n) \8 ?! L6 N
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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. $ A& g4 I5 P# o ( y \, n, G" y3 L3 V! I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 u, n& e) O) C" Q* h ^+ {0 {4 N/ H j- r; `0 L
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. 1 j- a. n3 ]: b$ V0 j8 L# I3 O+ }6 [+ U( u2 i6 G/ J
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。2 r" p/ e4 e. y3 h* X9 r2 J" w* X- S
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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. & q' H& A* W! F/ d% h0 v4 B/ e ' E) p) ]7 J/ C- I8 c! s! j+ J- j l% s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。) R0 z; x) X" f
, v$ g6 e) b4 ~! dThe 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.( p8 }0 E+ j' {8 p' ^5 V8 ~
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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。 ( J0 P0 N( z( k a# B , N& h! v7 f, P. EShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." % L" `3 N- ^% d8 Y, L2 e& B- L1 d0 Z9 D, X+ W! i: W/ H2 E
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 5 L& u3 }8 y; X & W) X, ]: W- nStartled, 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?" ; G, u5 l8 h8 W0 y1 X ' x3 x& `8 D7 O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？」 , ^% z4 d$ q2 V! Q, {( G' l" o Q5 o& S* N, {3 h( d
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com): \# @" a1 D$ y. M
6 S' S/ _8 Q, |4 k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)1 \ ~6 k% ?4 @: }6 B, @8 Z6 v/ U
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 ! i: I$ K- B d ! {$ b1 K6 S! U1 ^2.transition：過渡，轉變! w9 @% |+ H: R/ q* }; u8 P0 m
* n7 {, a2 {8 A6 X$ o; yRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 8 w0 D0 d! t. p1 ^% q1 }6 X* s J* k5 Q1 J8 k4 F( w1 a9 o5 M
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： e- D4 z+ f) t# q- O * i$ Q- \0 p# t& K7 O' _When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. $ } B7 L3 l i0 M6 y 1 a& b+ \) o4 h; B* F當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。3 S* B7 I+ ] ^1 }) j9 q, g3 y1 C
+ S/ \# k% r8 w& v: GNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. . e/ d6 _. t2 }2 y1 d/ O: @ $ d% `# q' d% \ g( ^- f, D: r永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。5 j6 k, t R5 w3 f
9 F. D/ Q9 D* gThrive on attention and let people touch you.% k1 C" D: W$ d% d0 z9 m, S
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。7 c% F7 ^6 }+ e' Q e
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.1 v6 p0 H0 b1 P
) Q0 ?$ `7 D& `高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 - L% U, }( B% \# Q; J# z) U( R: B4 a F! p8 n/ u1 p
Be loyal.' g7 Y( g0 A; h6 V1 H* F1 J1 C
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忠誠。3 u# r: l# s% E% K6 v- S/ t7 p- s
- G1 M* U% g2 [4 C; Y* W. l. ]Never pretend to be something you're not. ' c! o! L. s+ m/ [$ r: l8 N B' i: J. k
永遠不假裝。; k! b9 u3 H# b! \& _
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. 8 g, O/ u/ q: u/ ?( K ) |4 z% w7 I7 q) O0 X6 h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。0 D) C0 h* h' X- K4 U
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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: I x. K' Y) X& u. ?# Q