月读英文诵典之——动物缘

　　就这样，你进入了我的生活，时而雀跃在我左右，时而温柔地伏在我脚边。而就在我已渐渐习惯了有你陪伴的时候，你却去了彩虹的上空。但也同样是你，教会了我说”再见”.我怀念你的声音，你听得到吗?

　　HEARTSTRiNgS

　　- Susan Race

　　In my experience, there is nothing like the feeling of rescuing a dog. Dogs are loving creatures already, but add the element of relief and gratitude, and true devotion flows. It is an immensely satisfying bond that I wouldn't trade for all the puppies in the world.

　　I named the dog Tugs, because he had tugged on my heartstrings, and I did alll could to make this life a happy one. In return, Tugs brought new meaning to the term adoration. Wherever I went, he wanted to be there too. He never took his eyes off me and with a simple glance in this direction, his whole body wagged with happiness. Despite his many handicaps and increasingly failing health, his enthusiasm for life was amazing. There was never an evening I came home that Tugs did not meet me at the door, eyes sparkling, his tail wagging excitedly.

　　We were together for a lttle over a year. And constantly during that time, I felt a silent current of love from him一strong, steady and deep一 unceasingly flowing to me. When it was time for the vet to end his

　　suffering, I held his head in my hands, the tears falling on his old muzzle, and watched as he gently fell asleep. Even in my sadness, | was grateful for the gift of his love.

　　For someone who has never had this kind of experience with a pet, there are no words to adequately explain it. But if you have loved an animal in this way and been loved so fully in retum, nothing more needs to be said. Some people will understand that since Tugs has been gone, my fear of death has lessened 一if death means finally joining Tugs, then let it happen when it will. In the meantime, I continue my work: re scuing abandoned animals and finding them homes where they can taste love and give such happinessin return.

　　And oftentimes when I look into the sky and see the soft billowy clouds floating there, I find myself sending a lttle message: I love you, Tugs.