狗狗天生知道如何愛

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

! j. F$ D5 [" BBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

6 u0 I- m) X5 U2 R7 W8 ^7 i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。

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.

8 `% u$ N; |- B/ n* QBelker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。

$ \3 k' j1 z# [: e2 }+ D5 H( ]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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$ H7 ~1 @8 A4 y! G4 H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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' n: ~) s/ [9 F8 o8 `$ P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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6 V# F- n+ I% c& z5 UThe 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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/ \) x4 j( [4 }0 }. z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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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.
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! n! }8 s* ]; W$ F* F5 ^6 R7 ]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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& t" x$ h: R# }! K7 }* l2 H, w9 w0 ~9 ?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。」

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?"
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$ m) f  q2 N0 v& t8 e& z) T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？」

5 I( Y: `. \. i2 E6 Y5 hThe 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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! C- M5 H( t" _% \8 S& H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

3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

: A/ @% [7 D: V/ _5 o+ u" ^; [●狗老師的啟示…

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
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. S. {: Y# V8 V/ l) }* K! c. {8 q記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：
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% i: v& k2 W! l3 U( G! S+ pWhen 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.

永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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$ m( U* t/ w  t; K4 e+ k7 r9 T. sThrive on attention and let people touch you.

, g, q2 C4 s* w# c6 }4 x隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

/ M# t& F7 m, s5 J高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

Be loyal.
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忠誠。
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3 h8 U( V) t3 S/ q4 mNever pretend to be something you're not.
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永遠不假裝。

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

% c9 W% h5 V- r5 \% C+ T0 C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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6 X# k! K1 x1 I2 e* {8 e8 K9 kRead 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