狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

& ]0 Q0 y/ C# r1 H9 J% c, |4 e" ^Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

$ `& \' }2 _4 m8 l$ y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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! F( p: T3 Q8 k& w& N& s2 J  nThe 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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' j) R) u' X  [+ l' V: EI 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.

* [2 k5 h2 V4 `4 Y6 R" P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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* I3 j8 a2 y1 d/ f$ Y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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8 Q% p! _1 J: g" L1 B  q& WThe 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。
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# X" J: _8 f9 \! \1 g" y* UShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

) K6 ^% `% J9 o1 R/ I$ e靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」

: e+ H, x; \$ W% FStartled, 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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. H: v  ~7 H0 G) a6 Q' 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？」
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The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

5 f) Z2 o" u  C2 [0 r3 n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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8 ?7 N6 P) \  o$ j6 |9 r2.transition：過渡，轉變

! P9 q5 j2 C; C! H3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

7 I/ N9 N, d5 T6 v- \6 L$ z. y●狗老師的啟示…

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

! W' L8 o9 V- ^  ^0 }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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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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( p1 m' {) [% i2 _; P7 r" x! fThrive on attention and let people touch you.

隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
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' z* d* s/ n- Q  IWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

, Z/ @: Z% \' `: V/ F0 U0 A; |& wBe loyal.

$ U6 L- N7 Y/ j8 I, G* S忠誠。
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$ C/ W* L. g5 R# e0 @  T0 W  xNever 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.

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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