狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

( f- \2 _( R: d( f  [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.
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# w6 v+ v, e. l% i4 i6 VBelker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.

" w% o" P' E) O2 {8 T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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* ?3 @* ]4 m6 J4 o5 i7 ~/ Q9 ?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.

5 E7 j( \( G) R; y5 E* E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。

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.

6 ?" y8 g- `" B  t4 D. G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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/ b. e: |* A3 u2 E6 i$ Z% R8 @% LShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
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$ h3 I, ^0 D# C  M+ p. l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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# y8 K5 D/ q/ l/ `. d* k  d- `  R, TStartled, 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?"

& S" Y8 G$ Z+ H5 R& B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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1 c: W2 x% d& uThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

2 Y5 K/ ~  J& f" Q" a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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$ F5 c) H# X) ]; R7 r2 ]" \+ P! U. E2.transition：過渡，轉變
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7 n& H: Z2 c  X5 s3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

# z. C, ]2 w9 j3 W+ x$ h/ J●狗老師的啟示…

* p8 x0 K* b; Z9 b. CRemember, 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：
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
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  G1 E# U/ j. X% h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.

永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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( O, d8 C$ {% s9 ~( t5 ]Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
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2 J* L' a) C* z2 qWhen 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.
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  m# }' C) D8 G$ n. J忠誠。
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Never pretend to be something you're not.

永遠不假裝。
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

( Y/ J* m: z4 R' r0 T( 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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