Paris-born Polish film maker, Roman Polanski. (Photo by James Jackson/Evening Standard/Getty Images). January 1969

Kazakh troops march during a parade of the armed forces to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day in Astana, May 7, 2014. (Photo by Mukhtar Kholdorbekov/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.

In this January 31, 2014 file photo released by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), shows residents of the besieged Palestinian camp of Yarmouk, queuing to receive food supplies, in Damascus, Syria. That year, the U.N. was able to deliver food to about five percent of people in besieged areas including Yarmouk, while today estimates show the organization is reaching less than one percent. (Photo by UNRWA via AP Photo)

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)

Russian actress and blogger Polina Pushkareva arrives for the screening of the film “L'Amour Ouf” (Beating Hearts) at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)

British tourist participates in a crab race at the annual Tobago Heritage Festival, at Buccoo Integrated Facility, in Tobago island, Trinidad and Tobago on July 29, 2018. (Photo by Andrea De Silva/EPA/EFE)

Victorian and Australian women's cricket team representative Meg Lanning dives for a catch during a photo shoot at Quarry Park on October 27, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)