《中英對照讀新聞》Disabled Vet Mow Lawns To Save His Dog’s Life 殘障老兵替人除草，只為救狗一命

◎陳成良

A 55-year-old U.S. Army veteran who has trouble walking is offering to mow lawns for $10 each to raise money so his dog can have a hip replacement operation.

1名不良於行的55歲美國陸軍退伍老兵，願意以每次10美元代價為人除草，以籌措經費，讓他的狗接受髖關節置換手術。

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Richard Reister of Chesaning said the operation for David will cost about $8,000. David is a one-eyed, three-year-old Alaskan Malamute-German Shepherd mix with two bad hips-- so bad, in fact, that if he doesn’t have them replaced, he’ll need to be put to sleep.

住在（密西根州）雀杉寧鎮的芮斯特說，「大衛」的手術費用約需8000美元。「大衛」是一隻一眼失明的3歲阿拉斯加雪橇犬與德國狼犬混種狗，牠的兩個髖關節都壞掉，情況很嚴重，如果不予以置換，牠就需要接受安樂死。

Reister posted fliers around town but only got one response. He said donations have been coming in now there has been some media interest in his dog’s plight.

芮斯特在全鎮四處貼傳單，但只得到一個回應。他說，這隻狗的苦難已經引起一些媒體關注，現在開始收到了捐款。

Reister, who relies on the dog for most of his daily activities, says he has no choice but to be optimistic. He’s had David since the pup was six days old. The dog, he says, has become a beacon of strength for him, both physically and emotionally.

日常作息十分仰賴這隻狗的芮斯特說，除了樂觀以對，他別無選擇。他從「大衛」還是一隻6天大的小狗時就開始養牠。他說，這隻狗已經成為他身體與情感的導引力量。

新聞辭典

vet ：一般指退伍軍人、老兵，縮寫自veteran。例句︰Many Vietnam vet（eran）s are now anti-war campaigners. （很多越戰老兵現今都是反戰份子。 ）vet也可指「獸醫」，縮寫自veterinarian。

put to sleep：原意是「讓…入睡」，文中是「安樂死」（anesthesia）的委婉說法。例句︰Reba’s owner had no choice but to put her to sleep. （芮芭的主人別無選擇，只能讓牠安樂死。）

beacon：信號塔，導航台，引導的人或物。 a beacon light，信號燈。