Providing Canine Companions to Those in Need

All careers involve a certain amount of stress. But some careers result in more than their fair share of stress and anxiety.

Military personnel and first responders, for example, are exposed to traumas that most of us, fortunately, never have to deal with, often life-and-death situations. These jobs can take a toll on one’s mental health.

The Service Dog (SD) Gunner Fund organization provides service animals trained to support these individuals. Matson recently made a $2,500 donation toward SD Gunner Fund’s service dog training program, which provides fully trained service dogs at no cost for veterans, first responders, and even children with mobility, hearing, psychiatric, or neurological disabilities.

Executive Director, Britnee Kinard, founded SD Gunner Fund in 2014. When her husband, Sergeant Hamilton Kinard, suffered a traumatic brain injury while serving in the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Britnee discovered firsthand the lack of veteran support programs that were available to them. “Gunner,” the Kinard’s Great Pyrenees, became the first mobility service animal approved by the VA for traumatic brain injury in the Southeast Coastal region in 2013. Gunner was Hamilton’s constant companion for ten years before succumbing to cancer last year.

In a 2021 interview with the American Kennel Club, Britnee explained their reasons for seeking a service dog.

“My husband went through a period where his legs and his arms would randomly stop cooperating with the rest of his body. It was during that time we learned that he had total nerve damage. The assistive aids, like grab bars and other things, could no longer provide him the help he needed, so we had to look for another means of assistance.”

Watching Gunner’s positive impact on Hamilton inspired Britnee to establish the SD Gunner Fund in 2014. The fund now trains therapy dogs for both facility and educational use. In addition to veterans and first responders, SD Gunner therapy dogs also work with children, providing learning-disabled children the confidence to read aloud or actively participate in physical rehabilitation therapy.

“On behalf of SD Gunner Fund, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Matson for their generous support,” said Britnee. “This renewed grant investment allows us to continue to offer no-cost service dogs - ensuring that veterans, first responders, and children with disabilities will enjoy an improved quality of life over the next year and for many years to come. These specially trained service dogs provide invaluable support, foster independence, improve mental and physical well-being, and offer constant companionship. We’re incredibly thankful to Matson for helping us make this difference in the lives of so many.”