4-14 为什么动物寿命比人的寿命短？（在线收听）

Why Are Animal Lives Shorter Than Human Lives?

Some of the most poignant¹ moments I spend as a veterinarian are those spent with my clients assisting the transition of my animal patients from this world to the next. When living becomes a burden, whether from pain or loss of normal functions, I can help a family by ensuring that their beloved pet has an easy passing. Making this final decision is painful, and I have often felt powerless to comfort the grieving owners.

That was before I met Shane.

I had been called to examine a ten-year- old blue heeler named Belker who had developed a serious health problem. The dog's owners -- Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane -- were all very attached² to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.

I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia³ procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made the arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt Shane could learn something from the experience.

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. The 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.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up⁴, “I know why.”

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, “Everybody is born so they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody and being nice, right?” The four-year-old continued, “Well, animals already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.”

注释：

1.poignant [5pCinEnt] a. 令人痛苦的，辛酸的

2.attached [E5tAtFt] a. [一般作表语]（与to连用）喜爱的；依恋的

3.euthanasia [7ju:WE5neiziE] n. 安乐死术，无痛苦致死术

4.pipe up（尖声地）说，讲话

为什么动物寿命比人的寿命短？

作为一名兽医，我经历的一些最痛苦辛酸的时刻，是和动物主人一起把动物患者从这个世界送到另一个世界。无论是由于病痛还是由于丧失正常功能，当继续活着已经成为一种负担时，我能帮助养宠物的人家，确保他们心爱的宠物安乐地死去。做出这最后的决定是痛苦的，想安慰悲痛的宠物主人，我经常感到无能为力。

　　然而，遇到沙恩后，事情发生了变化。

　　我出诊检查一只叫贝尔克的10岁蓝色赫勒犬，它得了重病。狗的主人是罗恩、妻子莉萨以及他们的小儿子沙恩。他们都非常喜欢贝尔克，期待会出现奇迹。我检查后发现癌症正在吞噬它的生命。

　　我告诉全家人，不可能出现奇迹，并提出可以在他们家为那只年迈的狗实行安乐死。在做安排时，罗恩和莉萨告诉我说，他们认为让4岁的沙恩看着狗安乐死去有好处，他能从中受益。

　　第二天，罗恩的全家围着贝尔克时，我又一次感到喉头哽咽。而沙恩却显得很平静，他最后一次摸了摸那只老狗。我不知沙恩是否懂得将发生什么事。

不到几分钟，贝尔克平静地死去。那小男孩似乎没有困难也无困惑地接受了狗离世的事实。贝尔克死后，我们一起坐了片刻，疑惑地议论起令人痛心的现实——动物的寿命比人的要短。

一直在静静地听我们议论的沙恩插嘴说：“我知道为什么。”

　　我们都感到意外而转向他。接着从他嘴里说出的话惊呆了我，我还从没有听到比他说的更令人宽慰的话。

　　沙恩说：“人生下来是为了能学会怎么过得好，像爱别人，做个好人，是吧?”那4岁的孩子继续说道，“动物已经知道怎么做了，所以它们就没有必要活那么长了。”