A FAMILY have been left traumatised after being told to “surrender” their beloved dog after falsely being accused of owning an unregistered XL Bully.

Lisa Calkin, 43, received a letter from Essex Police earlier this month claiming there had been complaints about her dog and ordering her to contact the force and arrange a time for it to be surrendered.

However her three-year-old dog is a Belgian Malinois cross Staff, named Bailey, and has little resemblance to an XL Bully.

Lisa, who lives in Shoebury, immediately went to the police station, without Bailey, to try and prove she was not an XL Bully. The breed has been banned by the Government and all owners must register their dog and ensure it is muzzled and on a lead at all times in public.

After a week of pushing by Lisa, police have now confirmed the dog is not an XL Bully.

Lisa said: “It has absolutely traumatised me and my family. I have been a mess. “We thought about running away. We knew she wasn’t a Bully, but I didn’t trust the system.

“I thought they were going to take my baby away from me. I thought they would come to my house and shoot her if I didn’t surrender her. She is my emotional support.”

The mum-of-two claims she provided all evidence about Bailey’s breed but claims it took more than a week until a dog legislation officer was made available to confirm Bailey was not an XL Bully.

Lisa added: “It was an absolute mess. Instead of Essex Police sending someone to look at her, they send a letter. It told me to just surrender her to the police station. I went down there straight away and was told there isn’t a dog legislation officer.

“In the end, after I kept going back, it took a front office lady in the station, who went above and beyond to find a dog legislation officer. She asked me to send photos and evidence and it was then cleared up instantly the minute the dog legislation officer looked at her.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Responding to a report made to us of a possible unregistered XL Bully dog in the Southend area, a letter was sent to the owner on Tuesday 12 March.

“This letter stated that the owner may possess an unregistered XL Bully dog and explained in clear terms the steps that must be taken if this is the case.

“The owner quickly reached out to us, this matter was discussed with her and a review arranged by one of our Dog Legislation Officers as soon as was practicably possible.

“Following this review, which took place on 20 March, her dog was swiftly deemed to not be an XL Bully dog or any other banned breed.

“As such no further action was taken or deemed necessary and this matter was closed.”