Pets are extended family members. If you've ever gone through the pain of losing a pet then you get it. Sometimes we think we’ve lost a pet and it turns out it has just been living in our attic for 30 years. You mean that hasn’t happened to you? Well, it did to this family and the story is amazing.

Manula was a very special part of the family and then one day she came up missing. The family was getting construction work done and the front door was left open, allowing the family pet access to the woods. They assumed that is what happened to their beloved tortoise, Manuela.

After searching for her and then finally going through the morning process, the kids lived their childhoods and grow into young adults. After their Dad passed away, they went up to the attic to clean out his belongings and what was among all the boxes? Manuela! The tortoise was alive and well.

I know you are thinking, “how on earth is that even possible?” I just learned that tortoises can live for up to 3 years with no food! Thankfully, there were termites in the wood floors so Manuela eventually made that her diet. The larva had liquid in it giving her some water intake as well. She is healthy, happy, and now living with the rest of the family. That was one long time out! Manuela is now getting spoiled and eating and drinking all she wants.

Did you know that tortoise can live to be up to 255 years old? That’s crazy!  Humans actually have to will them to family members because they often out-live their owners.  As they say, slow and steady wins the race!  Check out the pics from Youtube:   

These are the pets banned in each state:

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

These exotic pets are legal to own in New Jersey:

10 Exotic Animals That Are Legal To Own In New Jersey

Who woulda thought?