After Manley allegedly hit Zariel (bottom right), the dog yelped and hid from his attacker under a seat, Ms Ramirez said. Photo / Facebook
After Manley allegedly hit Zariel (bottom right), the dog yelped and hid from his attacker under a seat, Ms Ramirez said. Photo / Facebook
A man allegedly punched a deaf woman's service dog and then hit her pregnant stomach because he felt the great dane 'took up more space than it deserved' on Thursday.
Hazel Ramirez, who is 20 weeks pregnant, was flying to Orlando for her gender reveal party with her partner, MatthewSilvay.
The 21-year-old told News 6 her Great Dane Zariel had slept through the majority of the flight from Colarado Springs, before waking up when the flight landed and stretching, reports Daily Mail.
Earlier, Timothy Manley's wife, Petrini, had complained of allergies, and the canine's stretch was allegedly the final straw for the 59-year-old.
Police said Manley hit the dog with a closed fist, causing Zariel to yelp and hide from the man under a seat.
Ms Ramirez, who is expecting her third child in just a few months, and her partner, who is also deaf, tried to tell the man off as best they could as the plane made its way to the gate.
Manley allegedly punched Ms Ramirez in the stomach (pictured is the soon to be mother of three during an earlier pregnancy). Photo / Facebook
Law enforcement officials were called to the gate, but before they arrived, a police report says Manley punched Ms Ramirez in her stomach before Mr Silvay, 30, tackled the man so he could not escape the police.
Ms Ramirez also told News 6 Manley pushed her two young daughters over in his bid to escape.
