About

Our owner Steve and his beloved lab Birch. 

About Sit Stay Forever: Organic, Non-Toxic Pet Care

Sit Stay Forever provides premium chemically safe organic pet beds, toys, treats, and grooming supplies for dogs, cats, and horses. Founded over 16 years ago to give conscientious pet owners greater peace of mind about the products they use on and around their animals. In a pet product industry where chemical safety is not always clearly regulated or transparent, we carefully research and select ingredients and materials with safety as our first priority.

Since 2012, our mission has been simple: to create products for dogs, cats, and horses using chemically safe, responsibly sourced ingredients and materials, while giving pet owners the transparency they need to make informed choices for the animals they love.

Steve Whitney, the company’s founder, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Natural Resources, with a focus on biology and genetics, and has more than five decades of hands-on experience with animals and more than a decade developing pet products.  Therefore, he brings both scientific knowledge and extensive practical expertise to the research, development, and selection of chemically safe ingredients and materials for pet products.

Growing up in the Adirondacks, Steve developed a lifelong connection to animals and the natural environment that ultimately led him to study Natural Resources, biology, and genetics. His education, environmental background, and decades of firsthand experience with dogs, horses, and other animals continue to shape how Sit Stay Forever approaches product development and chemical safety.

Founded in Science and Experience

At Sit Stay Forever, we believe product safety begins with understanding the ingredients and materials that come in contact with our pets. Steve personally researches and develops our formulations and evaluates the materials used in our products, applying a safety-first approach centered on chemical safety, responsible material selection, and transparency.

The company’s story began in 2012 with the passing of Steve’s beloved chocolate Labrador, Birch. Beginning at four years old, Birch developed numerous lipomas and mast-cell tumors. By the time he was 12, he had undergone approximately one surgery every year and had more than 50 tumors removed.

Steve and Birch had moved to East Hampton, New York, in 2004. There, Steve became increasingly aware of the extensive use of lawn-care chemicals and pesticides throughout the area. After treatments, homeowners commonly posted small signs warning people and pets to avoid treated lawns for a period of time.

Anecdotally, Steve wondered whether Birch’s recurring tumors might have been connected to chemical exposures in his environment. There was no way to determine what caused Birch’s tumors, but the experience led Steve to question the cumulative chemical exposure pets may experience from the lawns, parks and trails they walk on, the products used on their bodies, and the beds, toys and treats they encounter every day.

Those questions became the foundation of Sit Stay Forever’s safety-first approach. As Steve researched the standards and regulations governing pet products, he became increasingly concerned about the limited requirements addressing the chemical content and safety of many finished pet products. He began researching ingredients and materials more closely and developing products with chemical safety as a primary consideration.

Continuing Education and Research

Our commitment to learning never stops. We continually research new products, ingredients, materials, and developments in pet safety, drawing on veterinary research, EPA guidance, scientific literature, regulatory information, and evolving industry standards, while also staying current with advances in business, marketing, and data analytics.

This research-focused approach contributed to Steve’s selection for the Northeastern University Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship Fellowship. Through the fellowship, he expanded his use of data analytics and marketing research to help Sit Stay Forever’s safety-focused mission reach more pet owners. 

"We do not test our products on animals and strive to source ingredients from suppliers that share our cruelty-free philosophy"

Our Commitment to Safety & Sustainability

We hold ourselves to higher standards than the loosely regulated pet industry. To support long-term well-being and a healthier ecosystem, we prioritize:

• Clean Materials:  We use organic, non-toxic components to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals.
• Responsible Sourcing:  We partner with local Maine vendors whenever possible to reduce our carbon footprint and support the community.
• Transparent Formulation: No hidden ingredients or mislead claims - just honest research driven products for dogs, cats and horses.
• Sustainable  Design: Every item is built to support both your pet's safety and comfort as well as the planet's health

Why Choose Sit Stay Forever?

For over a decade, we have been the trusted choice for pet owners who refuse to compromise on safety. By merging firsthand animal husbandry with scientific research, Sit Stay Forever offers a level of transparency and quality that supports the long-term health and vitality of the animals you love. 

Steve riding Loyalis, a once in a life time type of horse.