ABINGTON, Mass. -- The wife of an Abington Marine hospitalized with severe brain stem injuries after a fight over a dog says her husband may never recover after another man allegedly attacked him when they exchanged words over the barking pet.

Donna Cherry said the family is still trying to process what happened as she sits by his bedside in a Boston hospital.

"Our world is absolutely shattered and never going to be the same. He is in a coma and probably won't come out, because this guy hit him," Donna Cherry said.

Police said Brian Cherry, 48, fell and hit his head on the pavement Monday after being punched in the head by Michael McGunigle, 49, at a coffee shop in a strip mall parking lot. McGunigle is charged with aggravated assault after witnesses said he sucker-punched Cherry.

"His brain injury is so severe that there is irreparable damage to his brain stem and they don't really expect any change," Donna Cherry said.

Authorities said Cherry spoke to McGunigle about McGunigle's German shepherd dog, which was barking and lunging at people and frightening children leaving a nearby karate class.

His friend Robbie Poulin was with Cherry when the dispute erupted.

"That's what Brian was doing, just looking out for them," Poulin said.

Poulin said Cherry simply suggested that McGunigle restrain his dog better. No one expected physical violence to erupt.

"It feels like just a bad, bad dream," Poulin said.

McGunigle was released on $3,000 bail after pleading not guilty to aggravated assault Wednesday. He contended Cherry was the aggressor but police said 15 separate witnesses all said McGunigle was the aggressor.

"He never had a chance. It wasn't a push comes to shove, it was just finger to the chest and hauled off and cracked him in the face," Donna Cherry said.

The McGunigle family declined to comment on the incident.

Cherry remained in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital Thursday.