The top-level domain (TLD) .PET is a generic TLD (gTLD) dedicated to the pet industry. It was introduced to the Root Zone Database, which houses the complete details of all TDLs, on June 4, 2015, by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the organization responsible for managing the internet’s address system.
The purpose of introducing the .PET domain is to create a dedicated online space for pet-related businesses, organizations, and pet enthusiasts. Registering a .PET domain can be done through various domain name registrars like GoDaddy, NameCheap, or the 1&1 consulting company (also known as IONOS), which all sell rights to use this domain.
When this .PET domain was initiated, it was a restrictive TLD, meaning it was intended that only businesses, service providers, and individuals in the pet industry (such as vets, pet shops, kennels, breeders etc.) would be able to register their websites with this domain. However, as of now, there are no restrictions on who can register a .PET top-level domain.
A few examples of websites that use the .PET TDL are “healthy.pet”, a pet healthcare company offering various veterinary services and “meet.pet”, a social platform designed for pet owners.
In a time when website domains are getting more specific and targeted to serve a better user experience, a .PET domain provides increased visibility and branding benefits for businesses and platforms related to pets. This domain enables businesses to precisely target pet lovers, making it easier for these searchers to find exactly what they’re looking for on a more digital platform.
Sources:
- ICANN (2015): New gTDLs | ICANN New gTLDs. Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/
- IANA. (2015): .PET Delegation Report. Retrieved from https://www.iana.org/reports/tld/pet
- IONOS (2021): Buy a Domain | Check Domain Availability | IONOS by 1&1. Retrieved from https://www.ionos.com/
- Namecheap(2021): Buy domain name – Cheap domain names from $1.37 – Namecheap. Retrieved from https://www.namecheap.com/
- healthy.pet: Healthy Pet – Veterinary Services. Retrieved from https://www.healthy.pet/
- meet.pet: Meet Pet – The Social Pet Network. Retrieved from https://meet.pet/
