万花筒 2008-07-12&-07-13 经济不景气,狗儿也遭殃

Brothers Choco and Furby have lived together for eight years (Come on in.) and apprehensively¹ entered their new caged quarters.

    

The economy has orphaned² the Chows.

-She gave up two family members when she brought them to us.

Their owner lost her home.

-These dogs are here because the owner actually ended up in a foreclosure, having the downsized situation, couldn't afford to keep them any longer.

 

It is a sad tale playing out for pet owners around the country. Michael McGeough lives a lean life on a fixed³ income. But rising gas and grocery costs forced him to surrender his cat to a shelter.

-Yeah, I (had a ) hard time letting her go, she cried all the way there.

All he has left of Zeba is her food dish. McGeough says he could no longer afford to feed her.

-Well, I was getting the help you know on the food bank and came through a lot of times that they haven’t stuffing. By the time we finished grocery shopping, and summed by cat food, I'm like broke.

 

As money strains grow, shelter workers worry so will pet surrenders and the number of owners putting off annual check-ups they can't afford.  Finances are still tight for McGeough. But he no longer fears his cat’s fate.

 -I felt good when I heard that she was adopted.

 Now these victims of foreclosure need a new home too.

 

In Bellevue, Elisa Jaffe, Komo 4 News.

 

1 apprehensively   

adv.担心地

参考例句：

• He glanced a trifle apprehensively towards the crowded ballroom. 他敏捷地朝挤满了人的舞厅瞟了一眼。 来自辞典例句
• Then it passed, leaving everything in a state of suspense, even the willow branches waiting apprehensively. 一阵这样的风过去，一切都不知怎好似的，连柳树都惊疑不定的等着点什么。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

2 orphaned   

[计][修]孤立

参考例句：

• Orphaned children were consigned to institutions. 孤儿都打发到了福利院。
• He was orphaned at an early age. 他幼年时便成了孤儿。

3 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。