The Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says animal protection officers have removed 29 dogs from a rural property near the village of Bulyea.

"Twenty-seven adults and two puppies are being transported to the Saskatoon SPCA for care," the Saskatchewan SPCA said in a news release Thursday, adding it was acting on a number of complaints it received concerning the care of the dogs.

Officers inspected the property on Wednesday and noted there was no drinking water for the animals. They also "received a photograph that provided additional grounds for belief that animals were in distress."

The organization obtained a search warrant and returned to the property with several officers and a veterinarian who examined the dogs and found them to be in distress.

"Under provincial legislation, an animal is in distress if it is deprived of adequate food, water, shelter, or care; if it is injured or in pain; or if it is abused or neglected," the SPCA said.

The dogs will be at the Saskatoon SPCA for three days.

"The owner of the dogs must contact the Saskatchewan SPCA by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 16th in order to make arrangements to pay the seizure costs of the animals," the SPCA said. "If the seizure costs are paid, the animals will be returned to the owner.

"If the seizure costs are not paid, the animals will be given to the Saskatoon SPCA, where they will be adopted according to their established protocols," the organization added.

Kelly Hanson was one of the people who reported the matter to authorities.

"I'm glad that they reacted yesterday and that they're finally doing something," Hanson told CBC News Thursday. "It's horrifying that it's taken this long for anything to be done about these animals."

Hanson said she was led to believe police were monitoring the situation on the farm.

"We were assured the dogs were being watched and cared for," Hanson said. "What makes us the most upset is that this situation has been reported numerous times before and everything was still left undone."

The SPCA said the case was still under investigation.