% p* X7 G8 ?6 [# EBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. ; ?4 M+ J! T6 E5 R 4 C7 f& Q5 z. h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。8 H* ?4 s1 {# \
) N0 |$ m; ~0 I& dThe 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. 6 l8 Q$ e7 V- c" u/ ?' I; B7 I ( F& @1 W, O/ s7 N2 H, \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。 0 N9 C( {# l0 d5 M" h! f4 J$ ]% N% |- k2 T
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. " }) Q$ Z% O( H2 A" k I3 [4 R- L& ^0 P. `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。; x5 y+ G5 V1 P' r {: A# |
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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.% ?4 C6 ]# j; Z0 f; T
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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。 ; J. d# t3 \) I0 d# w4 e2 ^8 n3 i! d
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.* ?* R8 q: K6 D9 K) d6 a$ q
2 ?/ U3 |+ O. T8 I n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。 : O$ C0 B- x7 A+ L+ \9 j0 x4 \% l. q$ }2 r5 B; ~7 X
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.5 ]. E" b/ z' V @( h) {% E0 i
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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。 7 n- D4 ~6 \6 I) ]- n) }8 K O, M% U# U# w6 U. t8 B
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."; Q3 b. p0 f* G |% ~
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靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」" }& ~1 L; g+ X" h/ X
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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?"' A2 f2 _2 {9 d% ?, ^' n+ `, S
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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？」* x# N" p! B; ~* s3 T( g# l4 f1 B* {
1 k- M& p+ x& ?) o# e6 lThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 0 S/ T! W7 K/ B5 X( R* {; ^9 J& u6 h4 U1 y: _6 t0 q; o
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)" \$ x& _* E; D/ F. o8 F" P
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 7 x: ~6 k5 I+ j0 ]0 S& W1 S$ @# x
2.transition：過渡，轉變 " G E8 z! x% p m ? % m' h& b6 U6 g! m% [8 r h9 f3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 $ q2 J* P& n+ o! z8 ^8 ^3 l8 C! G0 h' ~/ S; U5 W: ~
●狗老師的啟示… / h+ e7 I3 Y" w5 [2 h' H- j $ X: k+ t- }4 @3 L: [Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ^4 b i. J* \! p& X( {
2 t% I% ?7 U# ~! j/ [記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： ) v/ j. D7 w0 j5 c3 \$ A) H % V, l( |( x6 D h% U3 vWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 8 V) E$ f- Z. U4 x: D; ]( S T# x7 `: ~
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 1 b; z1 l) _7 j* N" X- | 3 P! x# Z+ Y5 i% G% a7 aNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 0 s4 E9 c. h+ I: S! y ! _! Z9 e- P, U+ A$ M. q1 d6 F永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 3 D3 \: b f r! B6 N + v2 u' n' j- _+ \' Z3 ]Thrive on attention and let people touch you.5 h! {) B" E9 }% E& f; Y1 n1 E
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。3 Y+ e/ ?2 E5 ]' E3 q" ?3 ?
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 6 E; J( d( S. n+ [& C9 i$ _2 g 5 ?: m; V% H, C1 q- u0 h0 }高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 3 e( ~% r) T# y2 e- { $ }4 S7 L9 B- a( m4 w% QBe loyal. 5 @, M4 T- f) ]2 R/ ]# \) \4 x; l, B ; x5 _0 U9 ^9 @' }+ [" d+ d" c9 }忠誠。 7 M! a8 E+ [$ V y* K + A4 V( p$ K4 p3 |Never pretend to be something you're not. . O5 I* b7 c/ T/ u # k$ {/ i/ {7 `+ f3 K永遠不假裝。1 Y9 ^* k3 h! D# V; E! ?/ a
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. : U: Z# m) \3 u1 r g, _/ {9 {4 w% w3 E, e) Q# V
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。 9 N2 Q2 i: `, K - g0 f9 [0 n; T6 R6 HRead 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 j2 A K4 M4 r/ R3 l; O