1 E$ e: S+ N4 e0 s( Z EBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.* T! v2 x- D, X/ ~
7 R6 A$ P8 {8 z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。 . j( r1 X7 s0 R) u7 Q; m* M+ i9 r a" B2 T8 t9 \/ i2 {
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.! d r# H! Y0 R. ]3 |* L# O
( N [% j' L% A1 S9 nBelker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。 & r* Q7 E; C8 s% \) N6 K# A. Q, b : G! F _: y1 W7 q0 p9 L l3 A% ~. \# mI 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.5 }; L5 f3 d" ]( y; R
& I4 x, t; T3 {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。2 `) F* s( M0 T* c; O1 Z
* [, K$ s; o O9 t' u+ S0 JAs 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.& N# @1 O' u8 q) z- `% A
! F4 a& l* ^' l; s0 Z! n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。, p8 z' a& u% ~/ O
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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. ! l. _1 F( @2 J; r5 M l& L* X3 E 3 `4 }6 R6 u; g' L6 ~) w- h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。/ c0 T6 c7 Y/ j
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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. * Q2 | i& k1 {; V4 c6 W" B) p& B. ]
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。" H O+ n) I/ R% N. Y7 [' x7 V6 E4 o
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." ) V: B1 F( C7 R9 v+ p% ] ( c% t+ m- E- {1 G靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」7 s0 J% D) W# _+ W' C& `: M
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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?" 9 @0 m# l7 @/ X, R0 U; V0 F9 m, D+ Z# f& X) s$ P
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？」& n/ `6 @( n" h0 c( X
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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)0 a" Z. Y* d& h- `8 _) T
3 n$ Q4 p' B: o. R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)5 y2 O' F" Q/ S
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 1 [) D0 `: O4 p( C& {' D y. h6 [: ]0 M% q; W' y
2.transition：過渡，轉變 7 p* l( ]$ V0 C* G' B& _, A * s& m8 ]$ K, L+ m! w, S3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 6 p5 |8 X0 ?( m) m% \5 d# x+ K3 p" C
●狗老師的啟示… ! r0 I8 I/ i* ]# n$ \- w( c3 v0 } }& n: V2 Y. H2 O$ R2 B/ V
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: $ ^9 ~+ v5 k( H4 X4 t2 B' L( h5 S; Q! a2 o" M2 R3 ?$ E
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： E" ?) k) B- _- C! U6 A+ p5 _8 n4 `
% R: V* o* `+ v1 MWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 0 s% G- p. |- _( `6 p. c7 V1 `% V2 k/ e* h
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。+ S% f# N; T8 A
2 j3 J |6 d3 r+ F; h# `) lNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. ' Y* e' V- I5 ^/ h s1 u 6 S+ Y3 l, p/ {8 C9 \4 k永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。9 M+ }, Z: j. U
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you. + k" _! @1 c" w1 v1 }' N' E ~/ y7 |) m0 C
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 5 V+ I6 w: I6 o) q a. N, E4 y4 w$ [; H; `. D0 M7 ~ e
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. " X F5 [) q' b6 x0 W# b* `0 Z8 v3 R/ l9 B4 w% f( Q4 O
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。6 r3 a1 \+ l8 l" X, z4 ?$ p6 b
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Be loyal.. ]( v! F1 V& A2 X7 U/ Q
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忠誠。 , _$ J0 g% e. B! i( ~* S+ B$ F v( Y/ c8 [% @9 W# k- n+ ^+ X
Never pretend to be something you're not.0 `; K, F+ M c# W3 d* p/ p w
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永遠不假裝。8 Y! h# o6 L" D" g+ f- p' Z
1 x4 {& N' }8 l) S$ _9 [When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. 0 c2 M1 f' v% w; ^0 Z" W " Y! I7 _2 r _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。, l. Q; s4 m0 E/ M/ k
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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 & }* B0 Y0 J4 w% s) F- G$ O