Three people face charges in connection with an alleged dog-fighting operation that was the subject of a raid in Tilbury East Township on Friday morning, police say.

Chatham-Kent police say that multiple search warrants were executed at a property in the township. The Ontario SPCA also participated in the investigation.

Forty dogs were seized and are now in the care of the Ontario SPCA, according to police.

The dogs "were found in various health conditions" and police say they will each be assessed by a veterinarian and given the treatment they need.

Brad Dewar, an inspector with the Ontario SPCA, said that he did not believe any of the animals seized were in a condition that suggested their lives were in danger.

"Do I believe there was one near death? No, but that doesn't mean that there weren't animals that required that immediate care," he told CBC News in a telephone interview.

According to a news release, "a large quantity of evidence that is consistent with the training of dogs to fight was seized," as were some guns.

Dewar said that dog fighting is not a common occurrence in Ontario — though it is not unheard of.

"We encourage any member of the community, throughout the province of Ontario, that if they have a concern that it may be occurring in their area that they need to contact us immediately," he said.

Two men in their early 40s and a 39-year-old woman are each being charged with animal cruelty and with firearm-related offences.

Police say the accused are being held for a bail hearing.

The charges against them have not been proven in court.