This greedy piglet was isolated from the rest of its litter by the farmer who named it Hitler after it tried to grab all the food at feeding time. (Photo by R J Lewis/Getty Images). 1942

A Pomeranian dog sits in a rolling pet carrier in Hong Kong, China on September 4, 2019. (Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

A worker sings while carrying prickly pears on his head as their production is on the rise due to low water consumption and ability to withstand extreme temperatures, according to farmers, at a farm in Al Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt on August 2, 2022. (Photo by Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

A City of Hollywood SWAT team member helps Alex Treacy from a search and rescue truck as she is evacuated from a flooded area on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Kim Tae-yeon holds a national flag while waiting for a parade to celebrate the country's National Foundation Day in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo)

A boy dressed like Hindu Lord Krishna waits to attend celebrations on the eve of Janmashtami at a school in Mumbai, India, Friday, September 4, 2015. The day marks the birth of Krishna. (Photo by Rajanish Kakade/AP Photo)

A man plays with his pet goat while taking a bath to cool off in a canal during hot and humid weather in Lahore, Pakistan May 30, 2018. (Photo by Mohsin Raza/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.