狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

3 L$ p$ S+ p& GBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.
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. }4 C: T2 w' _' k- k$ G; P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。

; R4 K1 E+ e0 u) n) |5 n7 iThe 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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8 o9 ~7 `8 i' f1 QBelker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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/ v- N( S2 g4 H" E5 ^$ b% j: W- ~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.

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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7 w1 ~( n- E; p1 r" G4 f% F1 n$ GAs 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.

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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* ?/ x4 f* C2 h) UThe 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。

" {6 h8 v3 P4 F1 oThe 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。

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
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% m7 C8 R0 J0 V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?"

: e1 t/ v5 F1 R5 U4 Y, j: H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)

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)

* Y( \9 E4 r- y* _3 D詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

7 ~' w5 t- {& P% ~* H- F: P2.transition：過渡，轉變
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" P; h% T: x) f% {3 }, ~$ c  x+ H# m3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

: i* O2 ]! u5 K3 ?( \7 @●狗老師的啟示…

" Q/ J! t4 T* e" Z* _6 kRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
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. |: e, M9 E2 ~& m  B7 s記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：
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# v2 k. W9 S- k1 n6 `& m! MWhen 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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3 a1 x; p8 y6 G/ @* qNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

* f' a! v7 P" q$ W* X& S永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

( `# h# R9 T0 U# xThrive on attention and let people touch you.
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

4 G# N, s! Y+ {% }' v高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。
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7 K7 @5 m/ l4 t9 P" S# gBe loyal.

忠誠。
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. n+ d/ ~- k0 S* }Never pretend to be something you're not.

: V! a0 J- A2 n5 j  o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.
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5 d- `# o2 ~8 C4 n( s& Z4 [+ 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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