Seven police officers stormed a 73-year-old woman's house and seized her 'dangerous' ten-year-old Yorkshire terrier Alfie after he chased after a delivery man.

Claudia Settimo-Bovio, from Kingston in south west London, claimed officers in five cars came to take her dog away on Friday.

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.'

It was reported the dog was 'possibly a Border Collie or similar size' but when police arrived they discovered Alfie was in fact a Yorkshire Terrier.

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

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 probably thinks I've abandoned him as he's never been in a kennel. I haven't been able to see him. He didn't deserve this.'

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

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

On June 21, she said she received a delivery from an online order and, because Alfie becomes excited around people and she lives on the ground floor, she asked the courier to leave the package outside the door.

About 10 minutes later she went outside, but the courier was still there at the back of his van and Alfie ran through her legs to chase him.

Miss Settimo-Bovio said: 'As soon as he saw my dog he was screaming like a lunatic, shouting "he's killing me".

'He was screaming so loudly people came running out because they thought someone was being attacked.

'He fell over in the next-door garden and I told him if he was afraid to just stay still. My neighbour came out and picked up the dog.

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

'It looked like the man had a little scratch above the waist, but I think that was from when he fell on the floor.

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 delivery man said the dog bit him but it was just a scratch. It wasn't anything, it was all over the top.'

Alfie, who Miss Settimo-Bovio has had since he was a puppy, was taken away and she does not know when she will see him again.

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

She told MailOnline: 'The police have not rang me and I don't know anything about what's happening.

'I was supposed to have an appointment at 11am yesterday but when I went they said they didn't know anything so I went back today but the guy dealing with it is apparently sick, so I am having to wait for their call so can't go out.

'It's just terrible. The police came around 8.30am on Friday morning, I was just about to take him for a walk but then I saw the police outside and thought there had been a burglary or something.

'There were seven of them in five cars and they came to the house and said they had a warrant to take the dog away.

'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. Alfie will probably be very scared now. He's never been in a kennel before.

'I'm in shock. I suffer from anxiety and stress, and this has made it so much worse. It was really over the top to send so many people for such a small dog.'

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Police in Kingston have seized a dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

'The seizure follows an incident on Wednesday, 21 June at an address in Vale Crescent, London.

'A delivery courier reported that a dog, possibly a Border Collie or similar size, had chased him and then leapt up and bit him on his stomach. He stated that he then fell over and was bitten behind the ear.

'The victim, who is in his mid 30s, went to a west London hospital and was treated for minor injuries. He reported the matter to police on June 26.

'As a result of the information at 08:08hrs on Friday, 18 August officers from Kingston attended an address in Vale Crescent to carry out a search warrant under section 5 of the Dangerous Dog's Act 1991.

'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.

'A police van was used to transport the dog. Inquiries continue.'