2009/08/12

Best Pals: The Blind Dog And The Guide Dog 最佳夥伴︰盲犬與導盲犬

◎魏國金

It’s not unusual for visually-impaired humans to rely on a guide dog - but now a shelter in Norfolk has found a blind border collie with his own inseparable canine companion.

視力受損的人仰賴導盲犬並非罕見,但現在在英國諾福克的一家動物收容所內,發現一隻失明的邊境牧羊犬依賴與他形影不離的狗同伴。

Best friends Bonnie and Clyde were brought to the animal shelter in Norfolk after they were found wandering the streets in a rain storm.

最好朋友邦妮與克萊德被發現在暴雨中於街道流浪時,雙雙被帶進諾福克的動物收容所。

When the pair are together Clyde, five, seems as capable as a fully sighted dog - but he won’t move unless Bonnie, two, is close.

當這對狗在一起時,5歲的克萊德行動自如彷彿是視力完好的狗,但除非2歲的邦妮在身邊,否則他不會有所行動。

Bonnie guides him on walks or towards food and lets him rest on her when he becomes disorientated.

邦妮引導他走路,或走向食物,當他分不清方向時,讓他依靠她。

Cherie Cootes, who runs the Meadow Green Dog Rescue Centre, said: "He totally relies on her the whole time. When she walks she tends to stop and make sure he’s there - she does look out for him."

經營綠草地狗狗救援中心的庫提斯說︰「他全天候依賴她。她走路時,不時停頓,確定他在那兒—她真的留意他。」

Vicky Bell, a spokeswoman for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said she had never heard of a dog voluntarily acting as a guide for another dog. "This is a very unusual case - it’s such a lovely story," she said."Some dogs take to guiding better than others because they naturally have the right temperament."

盲人導盲犬協會女發言人貝爾指出,她未曾聽過有狗自願擔任另一隻狗的導盲犬。「這是非常罕見的例子—如此美好的故事」,她說,「有些狗比其他狗更勝任引導,因為他們天生擁有恰當的性格。」

新聞辭典

rest on︰片語:仰賴、依靠。例句︰I rest on your promise.(我相信你的承諾。)

disorientated︰形容詞,迷失方向的、不知所措的。disorient為動詞,指使迷惘、使迷失方向。例句︰The strange streets disoriented me.(陌生的街道使我迷失方向。)

temperament︰名詞,氣質、性格、稟賦。例句︰He is highly nervous and volatile in temperament.(他生性十分神經質、喜怒無常。)

No comments: