【雪燄堂】

圖片說明：寵物繁殖場的種母 A dog in puppy mills 　　這是milk mother以前在新聞英文課做的報告，介紹目前坊間不肖寵物店常見的問題，與奸商欺騙顧客的技倆。 　　如果你自認愛護動物，請告知親友購買寵物前要三思；如果你有養寵物，請好好珍惜這段得來不易的緣份。 　　因為這是一年前的文章，原稿早已遺失，我只能大概翻出當初要寫的意思。請各位將就吧～XD

Night Market Pets Always Diseased

By

Milk Mother

        Night market pet shops are popular especially with students, because there are many cute purebred animals or mixed breeds to choose from. Besides, people can afford them. Night market pets may be cheap, but the often suffer from neglect and are always diseased. 　　夜市的寵物店非常受大家（特別是學生）的喜愛，在這兒你可以選購各式各樣的寵物，它的價格人們也負擔得起；問題是，便宜的寵物也經常因疏於照顧而染上疾病。

        " Last weekend I got three cases of distemper," said Dr. Kao, a veterinarian in Kaohsiung City. "All are from night market."

　　「上個禮拜我接到三個得犬瘟熱的病例，全都是從夜市買來的。」高雄的獸醫Ｋ先生如是說。

        In Taiwan, most kennels and pet breeders are unlawful. Animals are misused and exploited. These puppy mills(*) sell newborn puppies to cut down expenses; they get purebred animals by inbreeding. The effect of mass breeding is high rate of malformed cases. 　　台灣多數的寵物繁殖業者都是非法的，這些小狗工廠（註）為了撈錢不惜出售初生的小狗，為了取得更純的血統不惜採近親交配，大量繁殖的下場就是製造出一批比一批更容易罹患遺傳疾病的動物。

        Every salesman knows how to get money from customer. Buyers should be careful that they are not tricked.

　　所有賣寵物的小販都熟知如何從客人身上Ａ錢的步數，消費者必須十分當心才不致受騙。

        Newborn animals that are still being nursed are easily infected with illness. Sometimes salesmen give customers false information on the animal, such as its age, breed, and condition.

　　剛出生而未斷奶的寵物非常容易生病！商人們有時就會在寵物的資料上作假，如：年齡、品種與健康狀況。

The pet shops may give you a list of hospitals. The new owners should not take their pets to these veterinarians for examination. Maybe they have colluded with pet shops, and they don’t tell you the truth. Actually, the pet shops always refuse responsibility though buyers notice their new pet is sick. In view of these facts, people should not get pets from illegal pet shops.

寵物店也許會向推薦一些獸醫診所，別帶你家的寶貝上這些醫院做檢查，也許那些醫院會聯合寵物店一起騙你！事實上，寵物店為了推卸責任，通常不會讓消費者知道他買的寵物是有病的。所以，要養寵物的，請別上這些不法的寵物店。

        There are several alternatives to find a wonderful pet. Animal shelters have all kinds of animals needing good homes. An adult animal is stronger, and it is easier to bring into a busy household. Besides, the fee for adoption is very low compared to pet shops. Sometimes you don’t even have to pay at all. Please make a good choice.

　　想挑好的寵物還有其他的選擇：動物收容所裡還有很多需要找好人家的動物。成犬成貓的體質比幼犬幼貓還要強壯，也比較容易適應人類的家庭生活。此外，領養動物的收費比在寵物店買還要便宜許多，甚至是免費的。想養寵物嗎？請三思而後行，做出最好的決定。 註：Puppy mills小狗工廠：外國專有名詞，指完全不顧狗兒身心狀況，把牠們當生產機器大量繁殖販售的奸商。這種繁殖場出來的寵物通常體弱多病、性情乖戾不易教養。台灣多數的寵物繁殖商都屬此類。