狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
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( J3 a6 p. x/ D0 T! ~. V4 `; f! MBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

; P% @% @8 W! z, D# I& @: K1 }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.

4 y" X. f. i2 f4 h4 IBelker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。
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  J6 H$ O, h' j3 }1 h8 ZI 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.
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/ X6 |9 e+ O4 x) F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。
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' k6 p; k# Q9 s) o4 ^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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" v7 T1 D) M7 L& e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。
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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.
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$ S+ C4 E' G( [: {1 A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。
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  T- }, M5 q  |: y# ?7 w. MThe 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。
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
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) S, V# V. z, f' r9 e0 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。」

, u" Z( S# |4 d  i4 qStartled, 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？」
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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)

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)

詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
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4 N: L9 ^% A0 e* ?( B2.transition：過渡，轉變

( p' L4 L! C7 k- i1 J3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

" i2 C( D$ k" |2 Q●狗老師的啟示…

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

: @. Z4 X; l; J5 S$ A5 y. Y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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& Z$ C5 h: J5 q6 j$ h6 R7 k# `Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

5 G5 b8 J) P* v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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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
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- y" @: {) g. l3 k# v  F' T! W高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。
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" o0 k2 I( A( a5 SBe loyal.
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4 r' O* H$ S0 t$ i7 u3 u忠誠。
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) [2 Y* o0 v& V3 P3 N6 \Never pretend to be something you're not.
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! ]' L" N7 x  R8 t3 Y* \4 A4 y& E永遠不假裝。
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0 c- V1 z8 N2 [( Q% j: XWhen 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。
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