狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

& `, v: h$ H9 `- f5 P1 QBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.
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: O1 k) V5 d$ i) J) m, ^/ t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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. A$ d3 L6 R+ tThe 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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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! z3 X0 _' j6 Q5 c" @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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# Y2 x+ w, v  d% V- 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。
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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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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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3 H/ b, t3 X5 J. D9 p/ X* A/ P. d& I: u; vThe 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.

6 a; q& h8 |% {6 s( W) Y& A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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  k7 f' {3 `4 q" c. B% t; MThe 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。

8 v+ H- V0 e( _! MShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

4 r$ X! U* U1 X8 j  a) v  j) z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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5 P% U/ O7 W" A/ v% E. S8 _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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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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% }' P3 m( c7 N4 h. t( D1 LThe 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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* Y% ^; D: ]  G2 d: h' z" Y5 O/ {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

- H8 u0 f. ?$ L% D$ k3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

7 N, i1 r( y7 l. U●狗老師的啟示…

0 k/ B! y7 }1 a+ Y' N7 S' zRemember, 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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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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* H$ ]- V9 I$ k2 R# E9 D永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

6 y) F  D, k0 p2 BThrive on attention and let people touch you.

  K) P, Z& ?: u1 h- a8 B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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2 V7 X% |3 J! h' f! z; A高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

( R* g7 }3 _( k* q- N% F* sBe loyal.

忠誠。

* ]& x( V0 R/ ^4 C+ e  wNever pretend to be something you're not.
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永遠不假裝。
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7 B8 d" q, {1 K5 j* KWhen 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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0 Q! a  k* j: i" H7 k7 b* T7 qRead 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