The “Strandbeest” sculpture created by Dutch artist Theo Jansen walks at Federation Square on February 1, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. The 12 metre long, 4 metre high and 2 metre wide structure built of plastic tubes and bottles designed to walk using wind energy will be on display at Federation Square until February 26. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

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 store mannequin with a protective mask stands before a clothes store as they open for the first time since March during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on April 22, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Small to midsized-shops are opening across Germany this week as state authorities follow a recommendation by the federal government to ease restrictions imposed in March meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Some schools are also planning to reopen soon, as are museums and hair salons in coming weeks. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Animal rights activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) stage a “die-in” to mark World Vegan Day in Piccadilly Circus in London, Monday, November 1, 2021. The demonstration sought to draw attention to the suffering and death of animals in the meat, egg and dairy industries. (Photo by David Cliff/AP Photo)

A couple embrace in silhouette at Craigyhill loyalist bonfire in Larne, Co Antrim on Monday July 11, 2022, on the “Eleventh night” to usher in the Twelfth commemorations. (Photo by Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty Images)

Randy Scott Slavin's photography is surrealism based in reality. His work portrays land and cityscapes in a 360 degree view, a perspective closer to that of the human eye than a 2D photograph, he says. Slavin's "Alternate Perspectives" is a series of photographs of a single location or landmark pieced together to create a 360 degree perspective in a flat image. The results are whimsical, and occasionally eerie, scenes that reflect the portion and scale of Slavin's surroundings when he took the photo.

A handout picture provided by Solar Impulse on 18 March 2015 shows the Swiss solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2, HB-SIB, taking off with Swiss explorer Andre Borshberg on board for the third leg Ahmedabad to Varanasi, of the Round-The-World, in Ahmedabad, India, 18 March 2015. Swiss explorers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg attempt to circumnavigate the world flying with an aircraft, with a 72 metres wingspan, powered only by solar energy without a drop of fuel. (Photo by EPA/Solar Impulse)