新冠肺炎疫情期间，很多人在家工作，随之，决定开始养狗的人越来越多。虽然有个能陪伴自己的宠物听起来很美好，但从买狗到到养狗都需重视动物福利，不能只有三分钟热度。本文就此展开讨论。

词汇：animal welfare 动物福利

For some people, there’s no better companion than man’s best friend – a dog. This four-legged canine can bring comfort and joy and provide much-needed exercise for you when it needs walkies! This probably explains why dog ownership increased last year because people spent more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

对有些人来说，没有比人类最好的朋友——狗更好的伴侣了。这只四条腿的狗狗可以带来舒适和快乐，当它需要步行时，它可以为你提供急需的锻炼!这可能解释了为什么去年养狗人数增加了，因为在冠状病毒大流行封锁期间，人们花更多的时间呆在家里。

It was demand for puppies in particular that saw the biggest increase. Who couldn’t resist their playful personalities, adorable eyes, and super-soft coats?

尤其是对幼犬的需求增长幅度最大。谁无法抗拒它们顽皮的性格、可爱的眼睛和超级柔软的皮毛呢?

However, as demand for a new pooch increased, so did the price tag. Popular breeds, such as Cockapoos and Cocker Spaniels, saw even sharper price increases, and puppies have been selling for £3,000 or more.

然而，随着对新狗的需求增加，价格也随之上涨。凤头犬和可卡犬等受欢迎品种的价格涨幅更大，幼犬的售价已达到3000英镑甚至更高。

Animal welfare charities fear that high prices could encourage puppy farming, smuggling or dog theft. And a BBC investigation found some breeders have been selling puppies and kittens on social media sites – something charities have called “extremely irresponsible”.

动物福利慈善机构担心，高价格可能会鼓励幼犬养殖、走私或偷狗。BBC的一项调查发现，一些饲养者在社交媒体网站上出售小狗和小猫，慈善机构称这种行为“极其不负责任”。

But despite some new owners purchasing a dog legally, maybe from a rescue centre or registered breeder, they’ve proved to be ill-prepared for life with a new pet, and the pet itself has found it hard to come to terms with life in a new home. Animal behaviourists in the UK have reported a surge in requests to help dogs suffering from fear-aggression after their lives have been turned upside down.

但是，尽管一些新主人合法地从救援中心或注册饲养员那里购买了一只狗，但事实证明，他们对新宠物的生活准备不足，而宠物本身也很难适应新家的生活。英国的动物行为学家报告称，在狗狗的生活被颠覆后，请求帮助它们的恐惧攻击行为激增。

Looking to the future, there are concerns about the welfare of these much-loved pets. Ian Atkin, manager of the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary in the UK, told the BBC: “At the moment, the dogs are having a great time, but separation anxiety could still surface when people go back to work.” And Claire Calder from the UK’s Dogs Trust rescue charity says “the economic situation also means that some people may find they can’t afford to look after a dog.” The message is not to buy a puppy in haste and to pick one that fits into your lifestyle.

展望未来，人们对这些深受喜爱的宠物的福利感到担忧。英国牛津郡动物收容所的经理伊恩·阿特金告诉BBC:“目前，狗狗们玩得很开心，但当人们回去工作时，分离焦虑仍然会出现。”来自英国狗狗信托救助慈善机构的克莱尔·考尔德说:“经济形势也意味着一些人可能会发现他们无法负担照顾狗狗的费用。”我们要传达的信息是，不要匆忙买一只小狗，要选择一只适合你生活方式的小狗。

词汇表

companion 伴侣man’s best friend 狗canine 犬puppy 小狗，幼犬coat （动物的）皮毛pooch 狗breed 品种Cockapoo 可卡颇犬Cocker Spaniels 可卡犬puppy farming 幼犬养殖smuggling 走私，贩卖breeder 饲养动物的人irresponsible 不负责任的legally 合法地，依法rescue centre 救援中心registered 已注册的pet 宠物animal behaviourist 动物行为学专家fear-aggression 害怕受攻击lives have been turned upside down 生活变得一团糟separation anxiety 分离焦虑症

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Why did dog ownership increase during the coronavirus pandemic?

2. What caused the increase in the price of puppies?

3. True or False: All new dog owners were totally prepared for their new pets.

4. How might going back to work affect the behaviour of a dog?

5. Where have some puppies been sold that have caused charities to be concerned?

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. He was very _______ to drive after drinking alcohol.

irresponsible irresponsing irresponsable irresponsed

2. My brother is a good travelling _______ – we love the same places and have so much fun together.

adorable breed companion personality

3. My favourite dog is a sheepdog – I love their _______.

smuggling walkies personalities behaviourists

4. They say dogs are _______ and it’s true: Rover is my best friend!

men’s best friend man’s best friend men’s friend man’s bestie

5. I am _______ for this race – I haven’t done any training.

fear-aggression turned upside down ill-prepared haste

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Why did dog ownership increase during the coronavirus pandemic?Because people were looking for something to give them companionship and exercise.

2. What caused the increase in the price of puppies?As demand for a new puppy increased, so did the price tag.

3. True or False: All new dog owners were totally prepared for their new pets.False. Some new dog owners were ill-prepared for life with a new pet.

4. How might going back to work affect the behaviour of a dog?Dogs could suffer from separation anxiety when people go back to work.

5. Where have some puppies been sold that have caused charities to be concerned?A BBC investigation found some breeders have been seen selling puppies on social media sites.

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. He was very irresponsible to drive after drinking alcohol.

2. My brother is a good travelling companion – we love the same places and have so much fun together.

3. My favourite dog is a sheepdog – I love their personalities.

4. They say dogs are man’s best friend and it’s true: Rover is my best friend!

5. I am ill-prepared for this race – I haven’t done any training.