Female bodybuilders compete in the annual Muscle Beach Championship bodybuilding and bikini competition at Venice Beach, California on September 7, 2015. Muscle beach Venice is one of two historic bodybuilding locations and took over as the most famous spot when the nearby Santa Monica Muscle beach was shutdown due to overcrowding. California Governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be a regular amongst the many famous bodybuilders and actors who have trained there and still makes an occasional appearance. (Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP Photo)

A grey whale greets tourists in boat in, Baja California, Mexico, March 2017. A pair of newly born grey whale calves intrigued by visiting tourists eagerly swim over to the group to get a closer look. Urged on by their mother, the small calves confidently went up to the tour group who were visiting San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California, Mexico. This adorable moment was captured by zoologist and wildlife photographer, Mark Carwardine on his visit to the area in March 2017. (Photo by Mark Carwardine/Barcroft Images)

A handout image provided by the New Zealand Defence Force shows aid supplies being unloaded by Fijian soldiers from an Royal New Zealand Airforce C-130 Hercules plane in Suva, Fiji, 23 February 2016. Tool kits, generators, ration packs, water containers and chainsaws make up part of the New Zealand relief following Tropical Cyclone Winston. The death toll from the cyclone that hit Fiji over the weekend climbed to 29, local media reported ON 23 February. Cyclone Winston, the most powerful storm in Fiji's history, battered the country's main island of Viti Levu and other smaller surrounding islands on Saturday, the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported. (Photo by Sam Shepherd/EPA/NZ Defence Force)

A woman cries after her husband was shot dead by unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles in Manila, Philippines late October 10, 2016. According to police reports, around 2,300 people have been killed in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war against illegal drugs. The figure was revised by the police from an original tally of around 3,600 deaths. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

An Iraqi Shi'ite boy poses for a photograph as Iraq Shi'ite Muslims commemorate Ashura in Baghdad, October 24, 2015. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the seventh century battle of Kerbala. (Photo by Ahmed Saad/Reuters)

Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

A leopard runs to at people as they run for cover in Katmandu, Nepal, on April 10, 2013. According to reports, 15 people were injured including three policemen and two officials from the Department of Forest. The leopard was later killed with the help of Nepalese policemen and local media. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/Associated Press)

ATTENTION: VISUAL COVERAGE OF SCENES OF INJURY AND DEATH

Villagers walk over a tree felled by rain in the village of Punta Caimanes, a place affected by heavy rains in the Izabal region, near Guatemala City, August 8, 2015. Heavy rains have affected eight communities in the municipality of El Estor and five in Livingston, both located in the region of Izabal, with five deaths due to floods, according to local media. (Photo by Josue Decavele/Reuters)