A woman enjoying an afternoon jog was left terrified and in tears after being ambushed by a large, aggressive dog.

Miranda Ellis, who lives in Gilman Road, was running through Mousehold Heath at around 4.30pm on a Thursday night when the incident happened.

The therapist said: "It's a lovely place to run and I had just passed through the passageway that leads to Gertrude Road.

"I noticed a man with a dog lead in his hand but no dog so I was on the lookout for one so I didn't run into it."

%image(15615807, type="article-full", alt="Miranda Ellis, pictured in Mousehold Heath, was jogging in the area when she was ambushed by a "teeth-baring" dog.")

But as the city woman ran past the man on February 3 a "very large" bullmastiff dog leapt out of a nearby bush.

She said: "I'm about 5ft2in so when it jumped up at me it was almost the same height as I am. It was huge.

"The dog also had its teeth bared at me. I like dogs and you get an idea of what is a friendly dog and an angry dog - this was clearly angry.

"I recoiled back and instinctively put my arm up to protect myself.

"Thankfully it didn't get its teeth into my arm but I did make contact with its mouth as I managed to push it away.

"I felt I was in danger, I was genuinely afraid."

%image(15615813, type="article-full", alt="The incident occurred down Gilman Road, pictured, at around 4.30pm on February 3.")

Ms Ellis was further taken aback when the dog owner ignored the incident and refused to apologise.

She added: "In my panic and trying to get out of the dog's way I hurt my calf muscle.

"Once the shock had passed I became very tearful.

"I wish people would be more sensible when owning animals and taking care of them."

A police spokesman said: "It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control in a public place.

"A dog is considered dangerously out of control if it injures someone or puts someone in fear or apprehension of injury.

"The penalty for having a dangerously out of control dog is an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to six months or both.

"If a dog injures someone, the owner can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined or both."