Why didn't I become lucid

I was having a recurring dream where at the front of my house near the front door I had a little pet bedding area that was in really bad condition and there were about 6 kittens laying down. They were also in a bad way, and I saw one I really liked. I decided to rescue it (from myself). I'm guessing the dream itself is just a way of telling myself getting a pet is a bad idea, because I'll end up neglecting them (I have a pretty hectic schedule most days).

But then, I remember thinking while looking at the kitten I chose, and back at the other kittens "It doesn't really matter, I guess, because when I wake up I won't have either of them, it happens every time...this never happens in real life"

The reason I did that is because that's what I think every time I wake up after I've had a dream about kitten neglection, which is really often. In case anyone here thinks I actually abuse kittens by leaving them to die, not true, I've never had one, but I reaaalllyyy want one.

This morning it took half an hour to even remember the dream, so I obviously wasn't awake when I said it. Am I like, dream-challenged? I don't get it

I actually had this occur today but I was able to induce a lucid dream from it. I was in my dream and I was stealing my friends car, I thought to myself "is this really a good idea". I then contemplated whether I was dreaming or not and eventually woke up. I confirmed that it was all a dream and then went back to sleep, I re-entered my dream and performed a reality check and enjoyed a good two minute lucid dream. Unfortunately it ended so abruptly due to my dogs need to lick my face in the mornings.

I've made conscious decisions in dream that I'd make in real life, but didn't know I was dreaming. I remember one time my dad yelled at me for not doing something and then in a dream I was doing the same thing I didn't do in real life. So I thought to myself, I better do this because my dad yelled at me earlier for not doing it. So basically I remember something from my real life and did it in my dream. Kind of confusing hahah.