Podcast Summary

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast

Episode: A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Grief, Pets, and Peaceful Endings
Host: Heather Straughter
Guest: Dr. Anya Worm
Date: January 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This heartfelt episode centers on the unique grief surrounding the loss of a beloved pet, exploring how in-home euthanasia can offer both animals and their humans a peaceful and compassionate farewell. Host Heather Straughter welcomes Dr. Anya Worm, a veterinarian specializing in house calls and end-of-life care, for a candid, insightful discussion about the challenges, lessons, emotions, and unexpected moments of hope woven through pet loss and grief.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. The Journey to Veterinary Practice and In-Home Euthanasia

• Anya’s Path: Dr. Anya Worm shares that she didn't originally set out to be a veterinarian, beginning as a psychology major before feeling the call at age 18 to pursue veterinary medicine. She reflects on how her psychology background informs her empathetic, communicative approach with clients (03:58).
• Discovery of House Call Practice: Anya describes falling in love with house call practice during time in the Netherlands, valuing the deeper connections forged in clients’ homes and the lower stress for animals (06:31–08:41).

“All of these animals come in with a human. And so knowing how to communicate and have empathy for the humans is a big part of my job and one that I really love.”
— Dr. Anya Worm (06:31)

2. The Unique Grief of Losing a Pet

• Pets as Family Members: Both Heather and Anya discuss the profound bond people have with pets and how the loss can be as intense as human bereavement (09:35–11:20).
• A Veterinarian’s Perspective: Dr. Worm shares that, contrary to expectations, in-home euthanasia has become the most meaningful, fulfilling aspect of her work.

“This is a gift that I’m giving to these animals and to the people… Watching your pet suffer is so difficult and emotionally exhausting.”
— Dr. Anya Worm (11:23)

• Navigating Guilt and Relief: Anya normalizes the complexity of emotions after loss—including a sense of relief once a pet’s suffering ends—and reassures families that feeling relief doesn’t mean they loved their pet any less (16:42–18:31).

3. The Process and Benefits of At-Home Euthanasia

• Comfort and Agency: Allowing animals and families to say goodbye in familiar surroundings leads to more peaceful, personalized, and less traumatizing experiences (15:18–16:23).
• Children and Grief: Dr. Worm encourages parents to involve children at whatever level feels appropriate for the child and family, using real, age-appropriate language to demystify the process (15:18–18:31, 44:04–46:06).
• Balancing Professional and Personal Grief: Anya stresses the importance of emotional boundaries and self-care to avoid burnout, especially after particularly emotional days or longstanding client relationships (22:26–24:57).

“If I have several euthanasias in a day, it’s emotionally draining to take care of the people... But I also can really easily remind myself that you can’t have the good part of having the animal without having this part.”
— Dr. Anya Worm (22:26)

4. Addressing Guilt & Quality of Life

• Quality-of-Life Scales: Anya uses objective quality-of-life assessments with families to help determine when it might be time for euthanasia, facilitating difficult conversations and easing uncertainty (17:33–18:31).
• Listening for Signs: She encourages owners to identify three things that bring their pet joy, and to use changes in those behaviors as guiding indicators for when their pet might be ready (36:53–39:08).

“If you’re open to seeing the messages and hearing the messages, you’re gonna… it’s gonna come. And you have no idea what form it’s gonna come in.”
— Dr. Anya Worm (39:08)

5. Rituals, Memories, and Continuing Bonds

• Family Rituals: Dr. Worm recounts meaningful rituals, such as children drawing pictures for their pets, prayers read over companion animals—including chickens—and honoring the unique place each pet held in family life (41:17–43:43).
• Signs After Loss: Both discuss the lingering presence of pets—hearing phantom noises, routines, or simply moments of remembrance—as part of the ongoing process of grieving and honoring loved animals (39:21–40:51).

6. Empathy, Boundaries, and Professional Grace

• Supporting All Families: Anya strongly rejects the shaming of owners who cannot be present for euthanasia, urging compassion and the assumption that people handle loss in the best way they can (48:03–49:35).

“It makes me so upset when people are shamed for the way they handle their pet’s euthanasia... I want to live in a place where people are doing the best that they can.”
— Dr. Anya Worm (48:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Learning Compassion from a Mentor
  “I went with my boss [as a vet tech] to an at-home euthanasia, and I cried... She said, ‘No, you would never get in trouble for having emotions and showing that. Clients appreciate it.’”
  — Dr. Anya Worm (18:43)

• On Death and Life
  “A good death is just really important. So much of this is life, right? Death is part of life. You can’t escape it.”
  — Heather Straughter (31:26)

• On Family Balance and Caregiver Boundaries
  “My family also deserves to have me present 100% of the time. And so I’m good with [taking weekends off] now. But that’s because I’m 53.”
  — Dr. Anya Worm (25:10)

• On Children’s Reactions
  “When the little kids are involved and they've drawn pictures, or I had a woman whose chicken I had to euthanize and she read a prayer for the chicken... people don't think they'll ever do that, but they do!”
  — Dr. Anya Worm (41:17)

• Grace in Grief
  “Give people grace and really try to believe that people are doing the best that they can... If they can't be in the room, that's 100% okay. Your animal knows you love them, and I’ll be there with them.”
  — Dr. Anya Worm (48:03–49:35)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Heather’s Introduction & Theme | 00:00–01:20
• Getting to Know Dr. Anya Worm | 03:39–08:41
• The Meaning of In-Home Euthanasia | 11:20–15:18
• Including Children (and Pets) in Grief | 15:18–18:31, 44:04–46:06
• Balancing Caregiver/Professional Grief | 22:26–24:57
• Stories of Rituals/Familial Moments | 41:17–43:43
• Quality of Life & Knowing When It’s Time | 36:53–39:08
• Addressing Public Shaming and Giving Grace | 48:03–49:35

Final Takeaways

• A Peaceful Death is a Gift: In-home euthanasia enables a dignified, gentle end, surrounded by family and familiar comforts.
• Grief is Multifaceted, Including Relief, Guilt, and Ongoing Connection: All emotions are valid; tools and objective assessments can help families make the right choices.
• Empathy, Both for Families and Professionals, is Essential: Providing space for children, holding boundaries, and refusing to judge others’ grief practices upholds respect for individual experiences.
• The Importance of Ritual and Memory: Small acts—drawings, favorite toys, prayers—can provide solace and honor pets’ unique role in life.

For anyone struggling with the decision or aftermath of saying goodbye to a beloved animal companion, this conversation offers compassion, wisdom, and practical advice on grieving, healing, and finding moments of peace and gratitude—even in heartbreak.