A Clackamas County man could face animal abuse charges after detectives say he stranded three pigs inside his house.

Sheriff's deputies found them abandoned inside an Eagle Creek home over the weekend. The house was trashed, and investigators believe the former owner, Shane Lovette, destroyed the house after it went into foreclosure.

The animal handler said it was the strangest rescue he's ever done. He had to lure the pigs out of the house with apples.

Background: Man accused of using pigs to trash house

Investigators said the pigs roamed around inside the house for about a week. With no food or water, they chewed on sofa cushions and shredded clothes that were strewn on the floor.

SLIDESHOW: See the pigs and the house

"They were really dehydrated, they looked real thin,” rescuer Tom Getten said. “I got them to drink a lot of water that first night and they seemed to plump right back up."

The animals were taken to different properties in Clackamas County. But Getten isn't sure what will happen to the pig trio. He said domestic pigs don't really stop growing and in a year they could grow to be too big to do anything with them.

Deputies are still investigating to see if Lovette was responsible.