美國人很愛寵物
，而且這不隻是一種不成熟、短(duan)暫(zan)的(de)愛(ai)。很(hen)多(duo)寵(chong)物(wu)的(de)主(zhu)人(ren)把(ba)這(zhe)些(xie)毛(mao)茸(rong)茸(rong)的(de)朋(peng)友(you)當(dang)作(zuo)家(jia)庭(ting)的(de)一(yi)部(bu)分(fen)
，有(you)時(shi)候(hou)還(hai)為(wei)寵(chong)物(wu)準(zhun)備(bei)娛(yu)樂(le)用(yong)的(de)錄(lu)像(xiang)帶(dai)和(he)玩(wan)具(ju)來(lai)增(zeng)添(tian)牠(牠)們(men)生(sheng)活(huo)的(de)樂(le)趣(qu)，如(ru)果(guo)寵(chong)物(wu)的(de)主(zhu)人(ren)具(ju)有(you)流(liu)行(xing)的(de)眼(yan)光(guang)，還(hai)會(hui)讓(rang)他(ta)們(men)的(de)寵(chong)物(wu)穿(chuan)上(shang)時(shi)髦(mao)的(de)衣(yi)服(fu)，在(zai)特(te)殊(shu)的(de)場(chang)合(he)裏(li)，甚(shen)至(zhi)為(wei)寵(chong)物(wu)噴(pen)上(shang)狗(gou)兒(er)專(zhuan)用(yong)的(de)香(xiang)水(shui)，讓(rang)牠(牠)們(men)味(wei)道(dao)好(hao)聞(wen)一(yi)點(dian)

，減(jian)少(shao)一(yi)些(xie)動(dong)物(wu)身(shen)上(shang)的(de)味(wei)道(dao)。你(ni)也(ye)可(ke)以(yi)說(shuo)
，美(mei)國(guo)人(ren)待(dai)他(ta)們(men)的(de)寵(chong)物(wu)如(ru)同(tong)待(dai)他(ta)們(men)的(de)孩(hai)子(zi)一(yi)樣(yang)--有時甚至更好。

 

　　In America, there are more households with pets than those with children. At least 43 percent of U.S. homes have pets of some sort. Exotic creatures, such as monkeys, snakes and even wolves, find a home with some Americans. More common pets include tropical fish, mice and birds. But the all-time favorites are cats and dogs, even at the White House. The Clintons' cat, Socks, has replaced the Bushes' dog, Millie, as reigning First Pet. Americans sometimes have strong feelings about whether dogs or cats make better pets. "Dog people" and "cat people" often enjoy friendly rivalries.

 

　　在美國，有寵物的家庭比有孩子的家庭還多。至少百分之四十三的美國家庭有寵物，有些美國家庭養一些外國品種的動物
，例如猴子、蛇、甚至狼；比較常見的寵物有熱帶魚、老鼠、和鳥。不過，一直廣受歡迎的是貓和狗
，連白宮也不例外。柯林頓總統的貓--襪子，已經取代了布什的狗--米利，成為神氣的「第一寵物」。美國人有時候很在乎到底最好的寵物是貓還是狗

，「愛狗的人」和「愛貓的人」喜歡開玩笑地彼此爭辯。

 

　　Leading a dog's life in America isn't such a bad thing. Many grocery stores sell gourmet pet foods to owners eager to please their pets. In Houston, Texas, dogs can have their dinner delivered to their homes, just like pizza. Well-to-do canines can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work. Pets can even accompany their owners on vacation. Fancy hotels are beginning to accommodate both man and beast. Furry guests at Four Seasons Hotels can enjoy gourmet meals served on fine china and sleep in soft beds.

 

　　在(zai)美(mei)國(guo)，狗(gou)所(suo)過(guo)的(de)生(sheng)活(huo)並(bing)不(bu)壞(huai)
，很(hen)多(duo)雜(za)貨(huo)店(dian)都(dou)賣(mai)有(you)寵(chong)物(wu)美(mei)食(shi)
，讓(rang)主(zhu)人(ren)可(ke)以(yi)討(tao)好(hao)他(ta)們(men)的(de)寵(chong)物(wu)。在(zai)德(de)州(zhou)的(de)休(xiu)斯(si)敦(dun)市(shi)，狗(gou)兒(er)還(hai)能(neng)享(xiang)用(yong)專(zhuan)程(cheng)送(song)到(dao)家(jia)的(de)晚(wan)餐(can)，就(jiu)跟(gen)披(pi)薩(sa)一(yi)樣(yang)。家(jia)境(jing)富(fu)裕(yu)的(de)狗(gou)兒(er)在(zai)主(zhu)人(ren)上(shang)班(ban)的(de)時(shi)候(hou)可(ke)以(yi)去(qu)狗(gou)兒(er)托(tuo)育(yu)中(zhong)心(xin)。寵(chong)物(wu)甚(shen)至(zhi)可(ke)以(yi)和(he)牠(牠)們(men)的(de)主(zhu)人(ren)一(yi)同(tong)去(qu)度(du)假(jia)，高(gao)級(ji)飯(fan)店(dian)已(yi)經(jing)開(kai)始(shi)可(ke)以(yi)同(tong)時(shi)留(liu)宿(xiu)人(ren)和(he)寵(chong)物(wu)，這(zhe)些(xie)毛(mao)茸(rong)茸(rong)的(de)客(ke)人(ren)在(zai)四(si)季(ji)飯(fan)店(dian)可(ke)以(yi)享(xiang)用(yong)以(yi)精(jing)致(zhi)瓷(ci)器(qi)盛(sheng)裝(zhuang)的(de)美(mei)食(shi)
，並(bing)在(zai)柔(rou)軟(ruan)的(de)床(chuang)上(shang)睡(shui)覺(jiao)。

 

　　Beneath the fluffy luxuries, there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well. At least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America. These provide care and adoption services for homeless and abused animals. Veterinarians can give animals an incredible level of medical careNfor an incredible price. To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance for their pets. And when it's time to say good-bye, owners can bury their pets in a respectable pet cemetery.

 

　　在舒適奢華的享受之下，其實存在著美國人的一種基本信念：寵(chong)物(wu)有(you)受(shou)到(dao)妥(tuo)善(shan)對(dui)待(dai)的(de)權(quan)利(li)。美(mei)國(guo)至(zhi)少(shao)有(you)七(qi)十(shi)五(wu)個(ge)動(dong)物(wu)福(fu)利(li)組(zu)織(zhi)
，他(ta)們(men)為(wei)流(liu)浪(lang)動(dong)物(wu)及(ji)被(bei)虐(nue)待(dai)動(dong)物(wu)提(ti)供(gong)照(zhao)顧(gu)與(yu)領(ling)養(yang)的(de)服(fu)務(wu)。獸(shou)醫(yi)能(neng)提(ti)供(gong)給(gei)動(dong)物(wu)極(ji)好(hao)的(de)醫(yi)療(liao)照(zhao)顧(gu)--價jia格ge也ye極ji昂ang貴gui，若ruo為wei了le負fu擔dan更geng先xian進jin的de健jian康kang醫yi療liao照zhao顧gu，人ren們men可ke以yi為wei他ta們men的de寵chong物wu買mai健jian康kang保bao險xian。如ru果guo和he寵chong物wu道dao別bie的de時shi機ji到dao了le，主zhu人ren們men可ke以yi為wei寵chong物wu買mai一yi塊kuai體ti麵mian的de墓mu地di。

 

　　The average American enjoys having pets around, and for good reason. Researchers have discovered that interacting with animals lowers a person's blood pressure. Dogs can offer protection from burglars and unwelcome visitors. Cats can help rid the home of unwanted pests. Little creatures of all shapes and sizes can provide companionship and love. In many cases, having a pet prepares a young couple for the responsibilities of parenthood. Pets even encourage social relationships: They give their owners an appearance of friendliness, and they provide a good topic of conversation.

 

　　美mei國guo人ren一yi般ban都dou喜xi歡huan有you寵chong物wu為wei伴ban

，這zhe是shi有you原yuan因yin的de。研yan究jiu人ren員yuan發fa現xian，與yu動dong物wu為wei伍wu能neng夠gou降jiang低di人ren的de血xue壓ya。狗gou能neng防fang止zhi小xiao偷tou及ji不bu受shou歡huan迎ying的de訪fang客ke。貓mao能neng幫bang忙mang清qing除chu家jia裏li討tao人ren厭yan的de害hai蟲chong和he有you害hai的de小xiao動dong物wu。任ren何he種zhong類lei及ji大da小xiao的de小xiao寵chong物wu都dou能neng帶dai給gei人ren們men相xiang伴ban與yu愛ai的de感gan覺jiao。很hen多duo時shi候hou，擁yong有you一yi隻zhi寵chong物wu能neng幫bang助zhu年nian輕qing夫fu妻qi做zuo為wei人ren父fu母mu責ze任ren的de準zhun備bei。寵chong物wu甚shen至zhi有you助zhu於yu人ren際ji關guan係xi：它們使主人們看起來更友善
，並且也帶給人們一個交談的好話題。

 

　　Pets are as basic to American culture as hot dogs or apple pie. To Americans, pets are not just property, but a part of the family. After all, pets are people, too.

 

　　寵(chong)物(wu)是(shi)美(mei)國(guo)文(wen)化(hua)中(zhong)很(hen)基(ji)本(ben)的(de)一(yi)部(bu)分(fen)，就(jiu)如(ru)熱(re)狗(gou)和(he)蘋(ping)果(guo)派(pai)一(yi)樣(yang)。對(dui)美(mei)國(guo)人(ren)而(er)言(yan)，寵(chong)物(wu)不(bu)僅(jin)僅(jin)是(shi)他(ta)們(men)所(suo)擁(yong)有(you)的(de)一(yi)樣(yang)東(dong)西(xi)而(er)已(yi)，它(ta)是(shi)家(jia)庭(ting)的(de)一(yi)部(bu)分(fen)。畢(bi)竟(jing)，寵(chong)物(wu)也(ye)是(shi)「人」啊！