◎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。）

自由時報-980812

++++++++++++++++++++