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Some of the most poignant[令人痛苦的] memories I spend as a veterinarian[兽医] are those spent with my clients[顾客] assisting[帮助] 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[悲伤的] owners.
That was before I met Shane.
I had been called to examine a ten-year-old blue heeler注 named Belker who had developed a serious health problem. The dog’s owners—Ron and his wife， Lisa， and their little boy， Shane—were all very attached to[喜欢] 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 euthanasia[安乐死] procedure[步骤] 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[爱抚] 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[悄悄溜走]. 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 up[插嘴]， “I know why.”
Startled， we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned[使震惊] 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.”
作为一名兽医，我最痛苦辛酸的记忆，是和动物主人一起把患病的动物从此世送往彼世。无论是因为病痛还是因为丧失了正常（生理）功能，当继续活着成为一种负担时，我能帮助养宠物的人家，确保他们心爱的宠物安详地离世。做出最终的决定是痛苦的，我想安慰那些悲痛的宠物主人，但是常常感到心有余而力不足。
直到我遇到尚恩。
我出诊为一只十岁大的蓝色赫勒犬做检查，它叫贝尔克，得了重病。狗的主人——罗恩、妻子丽莎，以及他们的小儿子尚恩——都非常喜欢贝尔克，他们希望能出现奇迹。我给贝尔克做了检查，发现癌症正在吞噬它的生命。
我告诉这家人，贝尔克身上不可能出现奇迹，并提出可以在他们家为这只年迈的狗实行安乐死。在我们着手准备时，罗恩和丽莎告诉我，他们认为让四岁的尚恩亲历这个过程，也许对他有好处。他们觉得尚恩能从中有所收获。
第二天，看着罗恩一家围在贝尔克身边时，我又一次感到喉头哽咽。而尚恩却显得异常平静，他最后一次摸了摸那只年迈的狗。我怀疑他是否明白正在发生的事情。
几分钟后，贝尔克平静地离开了我们。小男孩似乎没有任何困难或困惑地接受了贝尔克死去的事实。贝尔克死后，我们一起坐了片刻，疑惑地讨论起那令人痛心的事实——动物的寿命比人类的要短。
一直静静地听我们讨论的尚恩插嘴说：“我知道为什么。”
我们感到很惊讶，全都转过身去看他。接着从他嘴里说出的话更是让我惊呆了——我从未听过比这更令人宽慰的解释。
尚恩说：“人生下来就是为了学习如何更好地度过一生，比如爱每个人，做个好人，对吧？”四岁的他接着说道，“动物们已经知道如何做到这些事了，所以它们没有必要活那么久。”
注：蓝色赫勒犬，即澳洲牧牛犬，精力充沛、耐力持久且多才多艺，在澳洲是从事长距离驱赶牛群前往市场的好帮手。
你或许能从一只狗身上学到的十堂课：
1. 忠诚。
2. 当你爱的人回家时，总是跑过去迎接他们。
3. 喜爱散步的简单快乐。
4. 当你感到快乐时，扭动整个身体，欢快地跳舞。
5. 在暖和的日子，停下脚步，仰躺在草地上。
6. 在炎热的日子，多喝水，躺在树荫下纳凉。
7. 如果叫一声就能解决问题，绝不咬人。
8. 当有人入侵你的领地时，给予警告。
9. 如果你想要的东西深埋地底，不停挖掘，直到挖到它为止。
10. 有人伤心失意时，静静地坐在他/她身边，然后轻柔地蹭他/她。
That was before I met Shane.
I had been called to examine a ten-year-old blue heeler注 named Belker who had developed a serious health problem. The dog’s owners—Ron and his wife， Lisa， and their little boy， Shane—were all very attached to[喜欢] 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 euthanasia[安乐死] procedure[步骤] 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[爱抚] 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[悄悄溜走]. 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 up[插嘴]， “I know why.”
Startled， we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned[使震惊] 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.”
作为一名兽医，我最痛苦辛酸的记忆，是和动物主人一起把患病的动物从此世送往彼世。无论是因为病痛还是因为丧失了正常（生理）功能，当继续活着成为一种负担时，我能帮助养宠物的人家，确保他们心爱的宠物安详地离世。做出最终的决定是痛苦的，我想安慰那些悲痛的宠物主人，但是常常感到心有余而力不足。
直到我遇到尚恩。
我出诊为一只十岁大的蓝色赫勒犬做检查，它叫贝尔克，得了重病。狗的主人——罗恩、妻子丽莎，以及他们的小儿子尚恩——都非常喜欢贝尔克，他们希望能出现奇迹。我给贝尔克做了检查，发现癌症正在吞噬它的生命。
我告诉这家人，贝尔克身上不可能出现奇迹，并提出可以在他们家为这只年迈的狗实行安乐死。在我们着手准备时，罗恩和丽莎告诉我，他们认为让四岁的尚恩亲历这个过程，也许对他有好处。他们觉得尚恩能从中有所收获。
第二天，看着罗恩一家围在贝尔克身边时，我又一次感到喉头哽咽。而尚恩却显得异常平静，他最后一次摸了摸那只年迈的狗。我怀疑他是否明白正在发生的事情。
几分钟后，贝尔克平静地离开了我们。小男孩似乎没有任何困难或困惑地接受了贝尔克死去的事实。贝尔克死后，我们一起坐了片刻，疑惑地讨论起那令人痛心的事实——动物的寿命比人类的要短。
一直静静地听我们讨论的尚恩插嘴说：“我知道为什么。”
我们感到很惊讶，全都转过身去看他。接着从他嘴里说出的话更是让我惊呆了——我从未听过比这更令人宽慰的解释。
尚恩说：“人生下来就是为了学习如何更好地度过一生，比如爱每个人，做个好人，对吧？”四岁的他接着说道，“动物们已经知道如何做到这些事了，所以它们没有必要活那么久。”
注：蓝色赫勒犬，即澳洲牧牛犬，精力充沛、耐力持久且多才多艺，在澳洲是从事长距离驱赶牛群前往市场的好帮手。
你或许能从一只狗身上学到的十堂课：
1. 忠诚。
2. 当你爱的人回家时，总是跑过去迎接他们。
3. 喜爱散步的简单快乐。
4. 当你感到快乐时，扭动整个身体，欢快地跳舞。
5. 在暖和的日子，停下脚步，仰躺在草地上。
6. 在炎热的日子，多喝水，躺在树荫下纳凉。
7. 如果叫一声就能解决问题，绝不咬人。
8. 当有人入侵你的领地时，给予警告。
9. 如果你想要的东西深埋地底，不停挖掘，直到挖到它为止。
10. 有人伤心失意时，静静地坐在他/她身边，然后轻柔地蹭他/她。