# f3 _4 R$ c+ x: u$ T7 m! |Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. , M5 p" X G* r- Z4 J( \$ K* \) Y( O. }. R0 R1 M
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。 ! M$ U% ~6 K# d5 j r. M/ t4 @. Q; W9 v5 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.5 A7 q% z- k& p7 c& }7 p! b
$ M, Y/ i1 g8 r$ K; t. 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。 # b; O, y$ E3 q, D * N0 n. K5 a# h* w: n: aI 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. " J( b4 T0 }# A7 \- i$ F4 K3 B $ c. H9 ^) E" a2 \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。& k, T, e& D. \- L
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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." d$ I$ Z* g5 M$ V, s
. \0 m" {( i' c2 E4 F* p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。 6 U" h+ n/ ^7 n0 s$ ^3 _; A. f, n# F4 Q% u( I
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. / {# ]: E/ N" G5 I) [! Z5 A7 a+ q3 ^ & \2 ]! }* X/ ?7 K6 @; z5 B# E' c, B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。 % |4 ]3 s3 U1 s! r/ n" X1 o- W# @8 X) V N. d- S
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., \/ P. e$ r$ J
+ R2 N5 A$ l" w. e% E9 ?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。2 ?/ F* F! R- y5 h& l, Z" Y/ e! ] v- n
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."$ ~! q) v2 k, p7 V
) z2 e/ P6 A/ m0 w靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 9 k# g: v6 T1 Y( b$ u) G" } & ?& o% `) ~2 E1 `5 }% UStartled, 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?"; s3 \' @* y( ^1 W E& U+ l M
, c8 c& O: F7 A' `8 ]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？」 * t$ P: n3 ?- U* H 2 A, {/ i) d% L% Q, nThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 3 \" g$ S9 ]% J9 q. b9 V; d' P9 L/ T# G# K; w8 B) Q# S k5 Q1 x4 a. N- g
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)2 d$ L/ Z0 l( A5 W/ n) I
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死" G+ k% Z Z( o( v
8 J& o$ z, u2 Y: j8 I6 }4 W; F2.transition：過渡，轉變1 l+ S. X' F0 s: G% U* B
, J; g* Y4 V. N [3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 " V: g: u5 q8 n& B * I7 F2 U5 q& s" r●狗老師的啟示… ' O2 M# Y' ~1 C& J9 f) V8 V7 ?6 D) e% \7 l$ Q P9 H7 C! S
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: + E8 {. N7 I; b1 _, M 3 r0 d1 d" t$ X0 Q5 M6 H3 R* J/ v# j記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： 5 g2 M7 L8 V/ O) D/ e1 j7 l" \+ u/ [6 T, g6 ^; n* b) [3 E
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 6 n: j; |$ {" y0 s; j ' D/ r% U8 Z3 D( b7 M當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 $ k4 k* B8 U5 W6 n0 n6 i! w$ E4 |! U
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 7 Z6 k! P4 ?& T+ D8 V2 N L* W N- _% `& h. R永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 * E. n# ]* n& B, q( o, ?6 n% \& u/ ^& {* S$ c$ M9 y
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.7 M/ O, R5 \+ Z2 W! |: m) u
% p$ D8 q# d1 P! Q$ |! b隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。3 F0 [4 r% F. b8 t! n
: U7 u. x2 }$ cWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.& K5 Q3 U! |$ z: Y+ j3 \
" I' m8 W0 q' m5 w7 o9 q/ ~& a' u高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。$ R, T% a7 K" x
% W) i' e( ~3 J" e6 V- N0 e; RBe loyal. ( b6 T3 ^3 C1 i 2 F1 @0 V9 ? U忠誠。 & O) t: q* Y' s d( v* ?1 i ) T/ G2 g( }1 ^6 N9 A9 Z/ hNever pretend to be something you're not. 3 M% N- q. `7 ^ X7 z! Q: Z2 [ " C9 G) g) {3 l, N! l3 G6 M永遠不假裝。4 G3 B: F% U8 g/ O$ I" C0 @1 F. @6 ]6 l
" u6 O5 Q5 j. @, R1 v! ]1 b. qWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.: a, }/ Q; Y2 w( L
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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。 ' U! {: @6 b) K: Y9 ? ) ^; G( u$ r, C. ^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 ' U; x: G% y, U! C) g. {