狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

: u2 _$ z1 v! Q7 B0 OBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

+ l: n5 {! t* O5 \; U  \3 A( R# c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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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.

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。

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.

' Z0 [/ g) j) m9 E& B9 w, I0 ~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.
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# S; V4 P# ^- q( X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.
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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。

: w" F+ _0 N4 v* D. d1 {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.

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."

. e7 |5 E8 T! _. P) s8 m; K0 n靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」

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?"

0 H! @. ~& a0 V9 _* S9 y) v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？」
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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)
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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)

; Q4 P8 c! }0 ], H詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

; X3 {0 w1 T: A. Z$ A2.transition：過渡，轉變
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, Q; D$ I( k7 W3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
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●狗老師的啟示…

& t2 i* m- q% s; P2 JRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

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.

當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

9 M3 U3 O5 H$ g/ t永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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+ ^* s; t1 l0 H. v$ h+ `5 `0 aThrive on attention and let people touch you.

隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

7 s5 a$ C; }7 C9 b! f% F% x高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。
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Be loyal.

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5 v2 t- }" _4 Q. n) k  rNever pretend to be something you're not.

永遠不假裝。
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2 v& q4 d8 X/ B2 V1 VWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

3 k/ U( f. l7 Y) d" E) l% b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。
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