Thirty-five dogs were taken from a cold, dark barn on Montreal's South Shore on Thursday, a location officials allege is a puppy mill.

Police and SPCA officials say they found the dogs unattended in stalls in the horse barn in the town of St-Mathieu after neighbours phoned in with tips.

The dogs, mostly Great Danes and Dobermans, were found with no water and little food, officials said.

"The barn is not heated and they're in the dark 24 hours a day, these dogs," Linda Robertson, a spokeswoman for the SPCA, told CBC News.

"These are mostly dogs that cannot live without heat."

Police said they have located the owner of the barn, but they are still looking for the tenant who rented it. The tenant is believed to be responsible for the dogs.

Robertson said the dogs rescued were mostly adults. Some had recently given birth, but the puppies were not at the barn, she said.

The dogs are now in the care of the Montérégie SPCA, which is looking for foster families.