狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch

; \- v& _, `' HBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

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。
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$ w. B* d) j# X3 GThe 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.

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。

& ^8 l! E3 f% D/ H' S+ k4 T9 cI 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.

2 G& T! ~" \/ S* u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。

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 x9 V. l5 @; L  V2 f7 U2 t2 Y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。

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.

( B  B3 R0 q9 M0 S# C: ?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。

% A8 c. D+ @2 b1 b8 Z0 o# m( CThe 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.
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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。

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
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2 Q' v9 h# G1 R* }* K靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」
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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?"

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？」

( ~2 ]7 d8 }6 M  j+ }+ L( F& _$ l$ mThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)
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: B$ P4 V) T! N0 ~( S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)
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# `1 U# K  w5 J& P. x( C" t詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
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, H  ^. M- d4 _8 h( m+ [. g/ F2.transition：過渡，轉變

  q6 _9 K$ f" P9 Q; C/ z/ e3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
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% m: d! k0 D9 D- {6 H6 z+ A) \●狗老師的啟示…
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6 L! g. d( \% D8 `Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

5 U8 I2 |3 t0 X9 R記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
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1 u$ F6 p. F0 E4 M( l! j. PWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
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/ _1 X, i8 J* p6 y, k高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

Be loyal.
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5 H3 }5 S8 ^. |) @1 N* R, A7 f忠誠。

Never pretend to be something you're not.

4 E! q+ G5 B5 y永遠不假裝。

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

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。

5 d2 E( ^* |- }/ u  {; WRead 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
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