A girl is seen in a bakery in the old walled town of Harar in eastern Ethiopia, May 19, 2015. Daily life of people in Ethiopia, where elections are held this weekend, is portrayed in the east African nation's churches and mosques, coffee shops and markets, both in the capital Addis Ababa and the walled town of Harar in the east. Ethiopia, home to nearly 100 million people, holds the first poll on Sunday since long-serving leader Meles Zenawi died in 2012. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/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.

Penguins majestically march on sand before heading out for a morning swim. Wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever, 45, visited the Falkland Islands this year to shoot pictures and scout the area for future tours. Wim’s breathtaking images show a small group of king penguins before they head out to sea at sunrise. Here: King Penguins marching during sunrise, Falkland Islands. (Photo by Wim van den Heever/Caters News)

A doorman stands at the entrance of the “The Walled Off Hotel” in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, March 3, 2017. The owner of a guest house packed with the elusive artist Banksy's work has opened the doors of his West Bank establishments to media, showcasing its unique “worst view in the world”. The hotel, several of whose rooms look onto an Israeli security watchtower, is awash in the trademark satirical work of the mysterious artist. (Photo by Dusan Vranic/AP Photo)

Sharafkhaneh port and lake Urmia. Masoud Ghadiri (Iran). The summer Milky Way is very prominent in this photo. On the galaxy zone, Saturn is located besides the Lagoon nebula. On the right of the horizon, you can see the extreme light pollution of Urmia, which is caused by ever-increasing city development. (Photo by Masoud Ghadiri/National Maritime Museum)

Chile's Javier Campillay drives past the burning car of Kazakhstan's Bauyrzhan Issabayev and Gabdulla Ashimov during the Dakar Rally 2014 Stage 2 from San Luis to San Rafael, on January 6, 2014. (Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier/AFP Photo)

Canadian escape artist Dean Gunnarson attempts to work his way out of a straight jacket while hanging from a crane by a rope which is on fire during a Royal Melbourne Show preview at the Melbourne Showgrounds on September 23, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. The Royal Melbourne Show officially kicks off tomorrow, and continues until October 4. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

An alleged albino cub of Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) plays at the Conservation Park in Medellin, Colombia, on December 23, 2021. According to environmentalists of the Conservation Park of Medellin, the little Jaguarundi will have to live in captivity as its albinism prevents it to hunt, camouflage, and protect itself from predators in the wild. (Photo by Fredy Builes/AFP Photo)