A morgue attendant at the Johannesburg branch of the South African funeral and burial services company Avbob keeps the curtain open from inside a refrigerated container where bodies of patients deceased with COVID-19 related illnesses are kept isolated ahead of their burials on January 22, 2021. (Photo by Marco Longari/AFP Photo)

Argentine singer-songwriter Maria Becerra arrives for the Person of the Year Gala, as part of the events surrounding the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, in Miami, Florida on November 13, 2024. (Photo by Marco Bello/Reuters)

Jennifer Lopez And Giuseppe Zanotti Celebrate Their New Shoe Collaboration at Neiman Marcus on January 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by FameFlynet)

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.

American actress, model, singer and activist Paris Jackson attends Comic-Con in San Diego, California, USA on July 21, 2018. (Photo by @parisjackson/Instagram)

Arrow sports his new elastic booties at a PetSmart in Tempe, Ariz. on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. Phoenix radio station KSLX handed out the protective coverings to protect dogs' paws from the hot pavement, as temperatures in Phoenix are forecasted to hit 120 degrees (48°C). (Photo by Angie Wang/AP Photo)

A police officer patrols as people party on a street as pubs shut for the night due to tier 3 restrictions in Soho, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in London, Britain, December 15, 2020. (Photo by Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

UK Love Island host, English television presenter Maya Jama attends the David Koma AW23 show during London Fashion Week on February 18, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for David Koma)