Maybe there’s a deeper lesson in there. Having a pet is a lot of trouble, they’re often annoying, they need care and attention - so if you really want a pet, be prepared to deal with all the negative sides too, not just petting and playing with them.
Things I learned over 30 years ago: If a tortoise poops on a wool rug, you have only a few seconds to save the rug or it’ll be permanently marked by the experience.