A pit bull that lunged at police carrying out a search warrant for drugs was shot and killed Tuesday night in Abbotsford.

Two members of the drug squad were on the perimeter of the property in the 35500 block of Timberlane Drive when the dog charged at them, said Abbotsford Police spokesman Const. Ian MacDonald.

The officers pepper-sprayed the pit bull, but it was unfazed. One of the officers then shot it with his handgun.

MacDonald said the incident took place on an isolated property, about one acre in size, on lower Sumas Mountain.

“There was no danger or risk to the public,” he said.

Members of the drug squad and the Municipal Integrated Emergency Response Team arrived at about 6 p.m. to conduct a search of the property. MacDonald said police knew from information gathered previously that they were going into a risky situation. The property had a long driveway, with surveillance cameras that would have alerted residents they were coming.

Police also knew there were two pit bulls on the property and that the house was fortified – certain doors were either barricaded or “strengthened,” MacDonald said.

“We were anticipating that this would have to be a dynamic entry.”

As the team was getting ready to deploy, a pit bull came at a police dog, its handler and another officer. It attempted to fight with the police dog, but the officers managed to chase it away.

That’s when the pit bull turned its attention to the officers on the perimeter, and was shot.

None of the residents or police on scene were injured.

Police then conducted their search and seized drugs, cash, drug paraphernalia and replica firearms. One person was taken into custody.

MacDonald said police have attended the residence about once a year since 2006, but not for anything criminally related.