4-14 为什么动物寿命比人的寿命短？

Why Are Animal Lives Shorter Than Human Lives?

Some of the most poignant 11 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 2 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。”