SD GUNNER FUND
Service Dogs For Exceptional Humans.
Our Core Programs
Service Dogs • Therapy Dogs • Exceptional Children Support • Bounty for the Brave
Exceptional Children Support provides service dogs for children with disabilities.
WHO WE SERVE
ABOUT US
SD Gunner Fund, a registered 501c3 organization has a mission to provide assistance to veterans, first responders and special needs children through the training and adoption of service animals. Service animals are trained to support individuals with mobility, psychiatric, and neurological disabilities. SDGF was founded in 2014 after founder, Britnee Kinard experienced first hand the lack of support programs that are available for veterans, after her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury serving as Sergeant of the US Army. SGT Hamilton Kinard is an OIF US Army Disabled Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient.
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
We are excited to share the SD Gunner Fund’s 2025 Impact Report with you. Transparency is one of our key values that we cling onto, so please feel free to review and contact us with any questions or concerns! We would love to chat with you.
SERVICE | COMPASSION | COMMUNITY | TRANSPARENCY | RESPECT
MEET GUNNER
Gunner joined the Kinard family in June 2013 as a Service Dog In Training. In March of 2014, Gunner finished his training and earned his SD credentials. SD Gunner served as a mobility service animal for Hamilton Kinard.
MEET BRITNEE
Britnee Kinard, founder and CEO of SD Gunner Fund graduated from MTSU in 2005 with a degree in recording industry business. Britnee left her high profile career in business, to become a full-time caregiver to her husband, Hamilton Kinard, after he suffered life-altering injuries while serving our country in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In loving memory of Gunner, the original Great Pyrenees service dog whose gentle heart changed so many lives. Hamilton’s current service dog, Helo, now carries on Gunner’s legacy of service and companionship.
MEET HAMILTON
As a military veteran, serving our country for over 20 years in the US Army and National Guard, Hamilton Kinard received life-altering injuries after his unit took a direct hit from an IED in 2005. Diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury among 56 other injuries, Hamilton was medically and honorably discharged in 2010 and became the recipient of several awards and honors including the Purple Heart and Global War on Terrorism medal. SGT Kinard is married to Britnee Kinard and together they have two sons, Blayne & Maks.
TESTIMONIALS
“After my traumatic brain injury, things I used to take for granted became everyday challenges. My balance, coordination, and mobility weren’t what they used to be, and losing that independence was one of the hardest battles I’ve ever faced. My service dog has given me back more than physical assistance. He’s given me confidence. He helps me navigate daily life, retrieves things I can’t safely reach, and gives me the courage to get out and live again. I may not move through the world the same way I did before my injury, but thanks to my service dog, I don’t have to face those challenges alone. He didn’t just change my life. He helped me reclaim it.”
— A Veteran
“As a firefighter, I’ve spent my career running toward the things most people run away from. What nobody prepares you for is carrying those experiences home. The nightmares, the anxiety, the constant feeling of being on high alert — they don’t disappear when you take off the uniform. My service dog recognizes when I’m struggling, interrupts moments of distress, and helps ground me when my mind takes me back to places I’d rather forget. For the first time in a long time, I can walk into a crowded room, sleep more peacefully, and be present with my family. My service dog hasn’t erased what I’ve experienced, but he’s helped me find peace in a life that once felt consumed by chaos.”
— A Firefighter
“Before our service dog came into our lives, our home was filled with so much love, but also constant worry. Every unexpected sound, every overwhelming moment, and every fear of our child wandering away kept us on edge. As parents, we spent so much time trying to protect our child from a world that didn’t always understand them. Then came a four-legged miracle who didn’t need words to understand what our child needed. Our service dog doesn’t see a disability. He sees his best friend. He brings comfort during meltdowns, reassurance during difficult moments, and a sense of safety we never thought our family would experience. But the most beautiful part? We have watched our child find confidence, independence, and a connection that words could never explain. This dog didn’t just change our child’s life. He gave our entire family something we had almost forgotten how to feel — peace.”
— A Parent
AS FEATURED IN
Want to keep up to date? Follow us on Facebook!
We share up-to-date events, sponsors, fundraisers, trainers, and families daily!