A woman was bitten by her own frightened terrier after he was menaced by a “pack” of three snarling dogs in a Moray forest.

Christine Macfarlane, from Lossiemouth, was walking Staffordshire bull terrier Zack through Pitgaveny Woods when three large dogs bounded towards them with teeth bared.

Mrs Macfarlane said the animals surrounded them, growling and making lunges towards her 12-year-old pet.

She tried to back rescue-dog Zack into a gorse bush to protect him, but during the fracas the terrified staffie lashed out and inadvertently bit her on the calf – causing cuts and bruising.

The 52-year-old animal lover is now speaking out in an effort to encourage fellow dog-owners to keep a better eye on their pets if off the lead.

She said: “These dogs ran out of nowhere. As soon as they caught sight of us they started growling and barking.

“The owners were within sight, but weren’t in any rush to call them off even though I was screaming for them to.

“The dogs were acting as a pack, so I backed Zack into a gorse bush to try and protect him.

“But the three of them were dancing about, and I was dancing to block each lunge they were making.

“Amid that, Zack got a fright, jumped forward and bit me twice.”

Mrs Macfarlane added that when the owners of the three larger dogs finally approached, they told her the pets were “just playing”.

“If I had been an older person or a youngster who knows what might have happened”, she said.

Mrs Macfarlane said Zack is very friendly towards people but is wary of other dogs.

He also suffers from arthritis and collitis, so Mrs Macfarlane tends to walk him in quiet places and keep him on a lead at all times.

She has now reported the incident to Moray Council’s dog warden.

A council spokeswoman said: “Dog wardens have a range of duties, but one of the main ones is to promote responsible dog ownership.

“Part of this is ensuring dogs are kept under control at all times, so they don’t cause fear or alarm to other dogs or walkers.”