又中又英 - A fear of dogs | 褚简宁

　　Some people love dogs, others dislike them, and there are some who fear dogs. I have said before I don't like or dislike dogs. I just dislike irresponsible dog owners who don't know how to manage their dogs. They allow their dogs to defecate (shit) in the streets without cleaning up afterwards. Some owners let their dogs bark continuously, disturbing neighbours. That has happened to me many times in Hong Kong. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has a fear of dogs. This condition is known as cynophobia. She said a dog bite caused her fear.

　　When Merkel went to Russia in 2007 to meet President Vladimir Putin, he brought his large black dog to the meeting room. Merkel sat frozen with fear. If you are frozen with fear, it means you are so scared that you become motionless. She wrote in her 2024 memoir that Putin did it deliberately to demonstrate power even though she had told Russian officials about her cynophobia. Putin denied he knew about her fear and apologized when Merkel's book came out. The Hong Kong government last month lifted a 30-year ban on dogs in restaurants. Owners can take their dogs to restaurants that apply for special permits when the new rule starts.

　　Some American states allow dogs in the outdoor dining areas of restaurants. I have been to one in San Diego where the dogs were well-behaved. Very few Hong Kong eateries have outdoor dining, but Hong Kong will allow dogs inside restaurants. Most Hong Kong restaurants are small, with tables close to each other. Many Hong Kong dogs are not well-trained. What happens if they bark, ruining the enjoyment of others? Does it mean customers with cynophobia can no longer go to their favourite restaurants which allow dogs?

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　　一些人爱狗，另一些人不喜欢狗，又有一些人怕狗。我以往曾经说过，我没有很喜欢或讨厌狗，我只是讨厌那些不负责任、不懂得如何控制狗只的狗主。他们容让自己的狗只在街上随处大便（defecate），事后又不清理。另一些狗主则容让狗只不断吠叫，滋扰邻舍。这在我还在香港的时候已经多次发生在我身上。前德国总理安格拉．默克尔害怕狗只，这种状况叫作cynophobia，恐犬症。她说，是因为一次狗咬，导致她心生畏惧。

　　默克尔2007年去俄罗斯会见总统弗拉基米尔．普京时，他带了他的大黑狗进到会议室。默克尔坐在那儿，frozen with fear——若你是frozen with fear，意即你惧怕得动不了。她在2024年的自传中写到，普京是刻意为之，以展示权力，即使她已告诉了俄罗斯官员她有恐犬症（cynophobia）。当默克尔的书面世时，普京否认自己知道她的恐惧，亦道了歉。香港政府上个月解除了长达30年禁止宠物狗进入餐厅的禁令。新法例生效之后，狗主可以带同狗只，进入那些申请了特别牌照的餐厅。

　　一些美国州分，容许狗只进入餐厅的露天用餐区域。我就去过圣地牙哥的一间餐厅，那儿的狗只都很乖巧。香港很少食肆有露天用餐区，但香港将会容许狗只进入餐厅。大部分香港餐厅都地方浅窄，餐桌紧靠。许多香港狗只都并非训练有素。如果牠们吠叫，破坏了其他人的雅兴，又会怎么样？这是否意味着，有恐犬症（cynophobia）的食客，不能再去他们最喜欢但容许犬只入内的餐厅呢？

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻