The original first mechatronic E.T. character from Steven Spielberg's 1982 film “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” on display at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California on December 12, 2022, ahead of the “Julien's Auctions and TCM Present: Icons & Idols: Hollywood”. The auction will take place in-person and online on December 17 and 18. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP Photo)

Australian professional boxer Ebanie Bridges at the weigh-in ahead of their IBF World Bantamweight Title fight against Shannon O'Connell during the weigh in at Aspire, Leeds, United Kingdom on Friday, December 9, 2022. (Photo by Tim Goode/PA Wire)

Somali women walk near a fish put on display by fishermen at the Liido beach in Mogadishu, Somalia on May 13, 2024. (Photo by Feisal Omar/Reuters)

The civilised world lies on its knees, a sickness wracking its body. The affliction causes a necrotising of tissues so perfectly uniform in distribution that victims take on the appearance of corpses long before death occurs due to organ failure or secondary infections. ...

Children of Indian laborers play on make-shift swings in Amritsar, India, May 12, 2015. (Photo by Narinder Nanu/AFP Photo)

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.

Izzy Paskowitz helps Nixee Grace Chanowsky, 4, catch a wave Monday, August 18, 2014 at Wrightsville Beach, N.C. during the Annual Surfers Healing event for children with autism. Hundreds of people made their way to the beach to watch and cheer on the camp that was founded by Israel and Danielle Paskowitz. (Photo by Mike Spencer/AP Photo/The Star-News)

Private Harold L. Langhofer edges into the ball-turret, March 9, 1943. Curled in this position, he can turn the turret so that it fires in any direction. The turret can also be swung around so that the hatch opens into the plane, and the gunner can crawl into it while the Flying Fortress is in motion. (Photo by AP Photo)