狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

( X" J% u( b8 i( g. L2 X" [Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.
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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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* S: o% d9 u  h1 k; uThe 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.
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7 `; J2 {% f  Z8 z$ P3 A; uBelker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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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.
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' r* q6 J& V. p% F8 Y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。

; u5 k0 B% g$ G# T" I' mAs 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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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.

- C1 V, j& b$ @3 E2 F# h" v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 b9 E3 M+ l# i0 W7 w, eThe 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。
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- E# p, Q" j# @Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

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？」
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4 d- m% G9 O1 t, l9 s1 lThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

; A  Q6 a5 p; K  \6 D' E) b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

2.transition：過渡，轉變
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& L1 B5 J0 `: v5 z3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

& [2 v  E0 Z) n! r●狗老師的啟示…

/ X$ ~: E/ [8 ~9 x0 ~# {( z! XRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
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記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：

0 p, R! k' J3 f. B/ v2 S4 q5 w# A, }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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2 j7 s" a, f+ f永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

* U: H/ Y, T8 e  W( vThrive on attention and let people touch you.
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3 q% M0 w# y! R8 C6 m  g7 g& V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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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

, v/ e. T7 I8 h1 CBe loyal.
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& L5 _  \* v7 D3 g0 M忠誠。
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- ]' |4 }% ?- p6 Z4 wNever pretend to be something you're not.

  l7 v) E& ]5 F1 B; o' ^& p, s永遠不假裝。

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
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  a3 O: w+ g4 V9 z" N% W/ V4 w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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