Yorkshire terrier finally returned to his Kingston owner

Claudia Settimo-Bovio (pictured yesterday) appearing at Kingston police station

A 73-year-old grandmother has finally been reunited with her Yorkshire Terrier who was seized by seven police officers after he allegedly ran towards a courier.

Police arrived in five cars at the home of Claudia Settimo-Bovio to collect Alfie, who is only six inches tall and weighs a stone, and took him away under the Dangerous Dogs Act. 

After being told yesterday at a police interview she might have to wait ‘three weeks’ to have Alfie back she was delighted to have him returned today after six days in kennels.

She said: ‘I’m so relieved he has been given back, I was so worried while he was away.

‘I live alone and he protects me, so I felt very vulnerable without him.

‘He’s just a small dog there is no way he could have done the damage the delivery man was claiming.

‘I saw the mark on him at the time and it was very different to the photos the police had. None of this make sense, it’s very confusing.

‘I don’t know why they had to have him for so long, he is not a danger to anybody.’

She now plans to make ten-year-old Alfie a special meal as a welcome home present following his ordeal.

‘I always like to make him special meals, I’m so happy he is back’, she added.

She told MailOnline she had been ‘overwhelmed’ by messages of support from well-wishers.

The Met Police said yesterday they were assessing Alfie’s ‘behaviour and temperament’ by an expert from the Met’s Status Dog Unit.

Miss Settimo-Bovio had been told yesterday police needed to speak with two further witnesses but she is overjoyed at having her Yorkshire terrier back. 

Miss Settimo-Bovio claims the police took Alfie because of an incident at the end of June

Miss Settimo-Bovio claims the police took Alfie because of an incident at the end of June

Miss Settimo-Bovio, from Kingston in south-west London, claims her pet did not even scratch the courier during the incident in June, saying the man instead fell over as the dog approached him.

She said: ‘I was treated like a criminal and I’m not.

‘My dog is not vicious. He’s not a Rottweiler, he’s a little Yorkshire terrier. I live on my own and he’s very protective of me.

‘He just likes to chase. Show me a dog who doesn’t like to chase.’

The Met had been informed the dog was ‘possibly a Border Collie or similar size’ but when police arrived they discovered Alfie was in fact a Yorkshire Terrier.

Alfie was then walked to a waiting police van on a lead.    

Miss Settimo-Bovio told MailOnline: ‘Alfie is excitable when he sees people but he’s then a pussycat.

‘It’s terrible because he’s 10 years old and not a young dog. We’ve never been apart. He didn’t deserve this.’

Taken away: Alfie was seized by police after he allegedly chased a delivery man in Kingston

Taken away: Alfie was seized by police after he allegedly chased a delivery man in Kingston

She said Alfie never attacked the delivery man but claimed he fell over. 

The grandmother said: ‘As soon as he saw my dog he was screaming like a lunatic, screaming, ‘He’s killing me’. People came running out because they thought someone was being attacked.’

The driver was left with only a graze on his waist, she claimed, but insisted on being taken to hospital. 

She said: ‘It only happened because he (the courier) started running away and fell over in the garden next door. He fell over and I told him if he was afraid to just stay still.

‘My neighbour came out and picked up the dog. It looked like the man had a little scratch above the waist, but I think that was from when he fell. My neighbour had to take him to the hospital because he was making such a fuss, but it was just a scratch and it could not have been a bite as his T-shirt was not damaged and it was not bleeding.’

She added: ‘My neighbour had to take him to Kingston hospital because he was making such a fuss. He said to him ‘don’t be such a p***y”’. 

The grandmother (pictured) said Alfie never attacked the delivery man but claimed he fell over

The grandmother (pictured) said Alfie never attacked the delivery man but claimed he fell over

The 73-year-old was quizzed at Kingston Police Station yesterday about the incident in June

The 73-year-old was quizzed at Kingston Police Station yesterday about the incident in June

Although the incident happened on June 21, police did not visit her property until last Friday. 

She said: ‘I had totally forgotten about it so when the police came, it was out the blue.’

She had told the courier to leave her package outside the door because Alfie can become excited when people arrive at her home. Around ten minutes later, when she went to collect her order, the dog ran towards the courier.

Miss Settimo-Bovio told MailOnline: ‘All the police there made me nervous and the dog nervous. I am 73 and have never had any involvement with the police apart from 25 years ago when I was assaulted in my own home. I feel safer with Alfie around.  

‘He tells me if there is someone at the door or if someone comes near – he is very clever.’ 

She added: ‘I never had a letter from the police.’

Miss Settimo's home (left, white door) in Kingston, south west London, where police swooped

Miss Settimo’s home (left, white door) in Kingston, south west London, where police swooped

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘A dog seized by police in Kingston under the Dangerous Dogs Act has been returned to his owner.

‘The dog was seized on Friday, 18 August at an address in Vale Crescent, London, SW15.

‘A delivery courier had reported that on Wednesday, 21 June the dog had bit him on his stomach and behind the ear.

‘The victim, who is in his mid 30s, went to a west London hospital and was treated for minor injuries. 

‘Two dog units and three local officers attended the scene. The dog was found to be a Yorkshire Terrier. One dog unit remained to give advice and the other left. The dog was walked to a waiting police van on a lead.  

‘A police van was used to transport the dog.’ 

‘He reported the matter to police on 26 June. The dog’s owner was interviewed by officers from Kingston borough on Wednesday, 23 August.

‘The dog has been assessed by officers from the Status Dog Unit who have approved the return.

‘The owner has also signed an acceptable behaviour contract.

‘As a result the dog has been returned to its owner while further action is considered.’ 

 

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