Police in Sussex County say that the owner of a bull is lucky to be alive after the animal attacked her.

The incident happened Friday in Sparta Township. The owner of the bull, identified as 47-year-old Wendy McDermott, suffered head injuries that required more than 40 stitches.

“When you’re dealing with an animal that’s 1,100 – 1,200 pounds, all they have to do is just strike you with their body and they can cause serious injury, if not fatal,” says Sparta Police Lt. John Lamon.

Lamon says that the call came in that the bull was attacking a woman. Police say that this same bull attacked McDermott’s husband the week before, but did not cause serious injuries.

Police were first called to the area after drivers reported seeing a cow in the road.

“We had reports that people were rolling down their windows and trying to pet the cow. But a lot of people don't know there's a little difference between a cow and a bull,” says Lamon.

McDermott tried to lure the bull up the driveway with food, with police following, but the bull tried to mount her car. This was captured on a police dashboard camera.

At the top of the driveway, out of view of the police dashcam, the bull began attacking McDermott and police said she screamed at them to kill it. When the bull charged a sergeant's patrol car, the sergeant and another officer fired multiple times with a shotgun and handgun, according to police.

“They were a little shaken up. It's something that you really don't plan on encountering, but when it does happen you have to act fast, you have to act decisively,” Lamon says.

McDermott was treated at the scene by EMS before being taken to Newtown Medical Center. No charges were filed as a result of the incident. None of the officers involved sustained injuries.

Police say that it is unclear how the bull escaped the property.