Man Survives Ferocious Donkey Attack

LAFAYETTE, Tenn. -- A Macon County man is recovering from injuries he sustained in a donkey attack last week.

According to the Macon County Times, a donkey walked in front of John Woodward’s car, then followed him home.

“John said at first he thought it was a deer and he stopped, but it put its head on the car and started to lean into the car. John honked the horn and drove on, about 25 miles an hour. … When he looked back, the thing was in a full gallop chasing the car,” said Woodward’s wife, Tanna.

According to Tanna Woodward, John Woodward was able to make it into the house safely, but went out again to try and chase it away with his vehicle after it climbed on their porch. After he exited the vehicle a second time, the donkey took action.

The animal kicked Woodward in the head, knocked him down and bit him on the face. Along with the facial bite, Woodward suffered a dislocated jaw and separated shoulder, according to the report.

Woodward will also need reconstructive surgery to repair the damage.

“If not for our neighbor, I might have come home and found my husband dead in the driveway,” Woodward’s wife, Tanna, said.

She credited their neighbor for distracting the donkey long enough for her husband to escape.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene and were able to drive the donkey to the home of its owner, Christine Harris.

Harris said the donkey had never shown any aggression before.

“I was out of town when it happened. When I got home, I noticed Jack was out of his lot directly behind my day care. … Jack was a good pet for six years,” she said.

The donkey was put down to be tested for rabies; results from the test were negative.