About The SD Gunner Fund

Retired Sgt. Hamilton Kinard and his Service Dog SD Gunner remember those who have served.

The SD Gunner Fund was created to assist Veterans & disabled children with the financial expense of owning much needed service animals. Service Animals require a variety of necessary items in order to perform their service. Those items can include but are not limited to: vests, custom harnesses, other assistance items, veterinary visits, and more. Service dogs are trained to support individuals with mobility, hearing, psychiatric, and brain/neurological disabilities. These dogs are professionally trained to meet the individual needs of their partner and completes tasks such as opening doors, picking up dropped objects, assisting with daily dressing, or pulling a manual wheelchair. The SD Gunner Fund can also assist Veterans and disabled children with a variety of “other” financial assistance if needed.

The SD Gunner Fund was started in 2014 by Britnee Kinard. Britnee is the wife and caregiver to her husband, Retired Sgt. Hamilton Kinard, and a full time mom to their two boys. The Kinard's eldest son, Blayne, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Mixed Receptive/Expressive Language Disorder in 2013. He also suffers from Stephens-Johnson Syndrome. Sgt. Kinard, a disabled OIF veteran, received his mobility service dog Gunner in 2013. The Kinard's experienced first hand the neglect the Department of Veterans Affairs, and their lack of approving the much needed service animals for our disabled veterans. “My family and I have struggled to navigate our way through the system, and we do not want anyone to ever have to go through what we've been through with the V.A. Service animals help Veterans like my husband so much, but the government refuses to recognize this." What the Kinard's didn't realize was that SD Gunner was also helping their son, Blayne, with his daily struggles. "SD Gunner helps me keep an eye on Blayne when he bolts from me," said Mrs. Kinard. He also watches over my son when he sleeps, and runs to him when he screams. He is our guardian angel! If a parent of a disabled child or military family is in need, I want them to know they are not in this fight alone, and that we want to help!"