狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

! f& X6 t- C2 T+ b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。
7 J/ A4 g4 W  ^) u  h
! f2 ~9 E, o# \1 s4 n4 bThe 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.
9 P3 l# s) S$ B1 J; d7 A+ f. y
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。

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。

; \- y2 m9 d* s' z% n* FAs 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.

! J1 @8 C; i! H9 U4 v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。

8 a  C) `  S- {3 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.

5 @  r: C2 Y8 C. 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。
1 X8 z: B; H' a0 d0 \' y3 }
. Z, ^- t5 x! JThe 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.
* D/ k" l3 o% B
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。
4 K# m9 O( D8 X1 }' G5 D( l
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
/ H1 y0 n7 r2 u# W0 m: u7 ~' j% 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?"
" |- s9 H0 U- ~2 Y
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？」

The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)
( {+ O0 @8 P. I0 t8 |- Z# e
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)
& \. j* T% B9 W8 ?" F' c8 g
" K; q" D# k. c& O+ F" H. ^+ f8 X& X8 B6 ~詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
( Z. T* [% i" y) ?
# \9 T6 J1 V2 b5 \; R2.transition：過渡，轉變
# p% e. F# o; H- `. M* S! Y
( r! x) D6 b* F3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

●狗老師的啟示…

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

5 e& C$ T& Q1 y+ Z4 B7 s7 j# v$ k記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：
% C1 v2 m, _% w" m: J' ~; c6 P) O
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。
/ f5 C: H$ T6 f- U2 h
! t: Q# u2 K7 F& G- ~' ENever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
0 \- a4 P1 v) o/ ]5 t8 W; z! x
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

, R2 H- Z/ j) `Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
& h8 ?! q) T; J/ K: e9 F
; k. B8 k8 F) l4 Z7 U! M5 N隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
9 g& \9 ]& G$ R4 Z9 P) `6 E& g
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
& [- N2 K+ f* T" `5 w( C& v
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

, B( x. `' c( h+ Z# S" ^; OBe loyal.
( Q4 Q$ T0 a2 @7 E- w' @+ C
忠誠。
! V% z" A) g4 p& z7 v! L/ t) X: G
Never pretend to be something you're not.
! V+ j/ _' j' L$ m5 r
: w2 J# E/ ?# Q: a永遠不假裝。
* e: E' Q4 N: B$ p" ~$ n
3 P& F+ R: a" u! c1 b5 N0 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。
7 T* l1 J! H* o9 o& J
Read 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