狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
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' h. _* A4 l# M- CBeing 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。

, n2 D6 d& V' K: o" T4 Z. _8 x: EThe 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。
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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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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。

2 @( _6 h8 w2 e% JAs 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.

" ?, X" H* {3 h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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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.

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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4 `1 f/ j3 b0 b& ?; T* [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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( J' p! L, r- G2 E/ M# AStartled, 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?"

. t) d( j, C# c% ~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？」

& v! c3 ~- z, XThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

5 c/ {1 u: v; v" F/ Z8 b1 c2 m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)
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
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2.transition：過渡，轉變
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3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
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●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：
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* H# Y; i8 b/ m2 TWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

: Q, a5 {2 Z' `; T7 v+ N當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
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: T  E2 i+ w: G# P* a2 s/ wNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

, [( N  M' y1 h, Q) aThrive on attention and let people touch you.

- o/ \1 z8 n$ Y5 S8 B4 S2 v: ^4 n3 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.

高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

; G8 U7 }$ v2 u0 M6 Y% ^Be loyal.

; Y3 K8 G/ i; f- K4 ^0 |, B) R忠誠。

+ _/ T' ]; C  A# k4 [4 ~Never pretend to be something you're not.
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& f" A3 `3 t: M9 `* T永遠不假裝。

/ c5 U$ ]  D$ D. uWhen 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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