' q6 V" z9 l5 U1 _9 s4 \Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.6 S( p) X1 @ P5 d
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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。 * \" i" [: H! o5 N2 y# Q% b' T$ f9 l R. e
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. 8 p) \! {, G& E" j/ S, f k6 H* ?, G/ n3 [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。/ S) F6 [9 ]" q' l/ X1 ]" t4 k
5 \: f8 j) e4 M- s' \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. 0 ^% j* d9 z1 D( o3 F( y, s 2 e R' B. }, t3 \# r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。+ y7 } g: D. n7 |4 \
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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. ; v: F! o) n$ B8 o2 X " Q0 }& Z8 r- J+ v& r5 i+ M% E2 V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。 $ Y0 c N1 h: O9 Y 5 X1 l% S4 T! W4 c0 H& F; |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. : T' t p: ?% t, d- o$ K ' v1 _3 t) ?8 Y0 x/ @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。 ) J, T# J8 M1 e& _ X7 n% A' m6 w# i0 O @5 qThe 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.- N+ e4 \( c& J' ~* X* a
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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。 3 i- u8 t) f6 b9 [8 Y) g! m! W, ^2 D ]( F4 c' C
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." ; I! E: F1 f* { . [- I0 E3 z ^; u靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」. _: ?, |% F8 S0 N$ c5 z
7 p* [0 m) d% j7 C0 x- V$ EStartled, 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 B" X1 y1 k7 O% r6 i$ c! `( J # Q- `9 w( N8 t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？」 , h/ i& i4 n' c& |( d, ]! s- k& `$ t* f" z; ]! Y/ ?3 c3 l
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 0 ~) E3 s- q( o% J( i $ l* o9 c8 ] E- J& V6 z, K: U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) ( O8 I; Z9 J8 M; z D% @: ~3 a! c! X: g) O9 A# u/ A! n( J
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 + G5 U% W" W! n2 T' { - B9 ?9 N) D2 S% q0 C" o2.transition：過渡，轉變% V6 P( U* n, d$ w
* v. A6 E [8 y* u# a3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出4 h+ @/ A# ^% J6 @/ T
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●狗老師的啟示… 2 c: z* C1 B) U7 f % `1 U& z) z% z* ORemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ' l+ n) P3 P' w8 f, K" N6 J F/ m, i! x! Q& r1 k# d
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： " Z2 K' H8 ~8 z' t/ H7 h/ p' E4 P# ]/ D
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. . V3 h7 p5 l) L! W + @+ L7 z! ?3 x% {) _" W( U1 @當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 9 G/ a: l: @ f5 _% E! j$ L2 i+ R( p4 g& x; K9 k( w( Z% W
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.2 S2 ~3 m% Y0 i( i- I/ q
9 u3 \2 d2 i0 Z永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 - o) A, N1 b/ [! x6 f 9 W0 y; | w5 m, |- TThrive on attention and let people touch you. . X; m" z3 z6 E; v4 Y* V: O4 H b7 F ; W/ p/ A |; t; U' r) J' l: i隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 $ q- {' n# S' T , u) R5 @, r* A+ jWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body." X3 Q" y! `1 f- I8 ~: J) _
/ g$ \. K0 f8 q7 z( A( V# T高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 - T, j, F; [. `- l) u1 O2 c* o- `+ F$ X; x
Be loyal. 9 s/ O L4 E$ I2 T4 X' Z- \$ B 5 t1 p L( L# T7 S6 `忠誠。3 L. z: U2 N8 I+ f2 K" C* u
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Never pretend to be something you're not.) p$ Y+ n1 w( f- Q) r, f
7 J7 @. a/ d6 r& R永遠不假裝。 ; B. D5 B6 ~; {$ j }* a5 S- \5 gWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. " z4 x' g$ w% h; `& \; X$ x4 g2 d3 l6 g( W* Y& N' y' 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。 4 i& L- ~3 B3 J" k' Y* i; A4 q: R4 E+ ?- Q
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 5 `- O4 m# l. _& y2 p/ k. F3 x