狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
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9 w! o7 Y" D% M# P7 d$ A, U( jBeing 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。

! k, `: Y, H% X- V  GThe 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。

* J# A0 _4 H, ]$ ^2 pI 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.

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.

% W! Y5 J% [% G( ^1 X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.

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。

4 T9 k- Z( A$ A) DThe 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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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

  q; [/ i( D& F- N7 s靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」

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?"

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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" D% {- `! h- ^% T- @3 c' KThe 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)
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+ w: G: A1 v0 a; I7 E* H2 E詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

8 e5 c! n+ N1 G4 n( i2.transition：過渡，轉變
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8 V- r' y& l1 _, o3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

4 i2 |, D+ a+ \1 i6 ^8 s$ j●狗老師的啟示…
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1 ?2 G' x: J% u) RRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

( S. i, t6 O! J$ [" k( S! \記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：

' z/ |3 ^! f: [3 n/ K) ]When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
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, c6 g, j' Y6 T: R1 |5 G8 o& ANever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

9 ~& l- G# X) s8 L1 m1 ~1 Y# _永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

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。
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" l$ ]. ^) y& uBe loyal.
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# X6 p% H# V- o/ d  a+ D& F忠誠。

Never pretend to be something you're not.

5 e+ A9 l5 J) V) N# {永遠不假裝。

  D, _( Q6 Y' L! e& d7 Z& xWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
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3 n+ v4 g6 J5 C5 K2 f9 T# A& O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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