狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
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: R  J: D% U5 s8 G) U* k2 wBeing 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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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.
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$ a1 x; G, I' z$ m: @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.

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。
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; @/ l5 y+ F: Z) i. T( E9 KThe 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。

8 J" g9 ~% K5 T( U3 YShane, 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。」

( `: m; k+ F+ q, \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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8 D+ o7 R' x/ A4 Z4 k$ }, B. R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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0 i- y' F& r: @# F& V7 e- x* D0 PThe 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)

! \. O, o+ p; l5 B3 ~" M* Q5 Y! U* F詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
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3 G: B: ]" \9 U' n& e2.transition：過渡，轉變
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" i3 P* j# h% P& t$ l3 ?3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
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  i* \# |  ]3 b0 C+ r●狗老師的啟示…
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Remember, 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.

: N. D( u3 x: y' [, U- v9 o- ]當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。

: [! U9 F  y( s9 v% H* j. fNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

3 X: P% x4 P7 Z" ~7 l永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

: y! T/ z9 w2 ^3 N8 R# UThrive on attention and let people touch you.
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

: P3 ~, a! p9 u$ U6 ?% h  s% N+ U2 p# _" OWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

Be loyal.

, k2 G; i5 N& \% [6 c5 u忠誠。

4 j4 J& Q6 S% L0 c0 _Never pretend to be something you're not.
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永遠不假裝。
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0 l  Y' O) {. e% H& o: PWhen 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。

9 _) v. Z, D, F! w/ ^# DRead 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