I'm sure I've seen AND used the option "nominate this pet for Pet Spotlight", but now I can't find it anymore...is it...gone?

You (or the person you want to nominate) need to go to your preferences to set your pet to "ready for spotlight." On the pet page, there is a link at the top "spotlight" which will get you to the page to set the option.

Oh my...so complicated for my tiny brain :D So...I ask the pet owner to make their pet ready for spotlight and then I go to their pet page and nominate? I got it?

yes, the owner has to enable nomination for their pet, and you can only see the nomination link on other people's pets, not your own.

i guess you could ask them about it, but if they have the option disabled, they probably don't want their pet being nominated for the spotlight—whether because the pet isn't "finished" or they don't want to participate in the spotlight at all.

Oh, ok, got it now, thanks :)

I finally got something right :D Thanks :)