Sarah Gibbons grades a new batch of Maple Syrup at Gibbons Family Farm in Frankville, Ontario, Canada, 31 March 2014. The annual maple syrup season marks the end of the often brutal central Canadian winters and heralds the beginning of spring. The maple tree, whose leaf dominates the Canada's flag, plays both a symbolic and practical role in the identity of Canadians who produce around 95 percent of the world's supply of maple syrup. (Photo by Stephen Morrison/EPA)

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.

A group of surfers ride the Bore Tide at Turnagain Arm on July 15, 2014 in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaskas most famous Bore Tide, occurs in a spot on the outside of Anchorage in the lower arm of the Cook Inlet, Turnagain Arm, where wave heights can reach 6-10 feet tall, move at 10-15 mph and the water temperature stays around 40 degrees farenheit. This years Supermoon substantially increased the size of the normal wave and made it a destination for surfers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

French model Frédérique Bel attends the screening of “Top Gun: Maverick” during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)

Sportsnet's Hazel Mae runs away as George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays is doused with water by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 following a 7-2 over the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on June 27, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by John E Sokolowski/USA Today via Reuters)

A Land Rover Discovery has been crashed and abandoned inside a canal lock in Tipton, United Kingdom on Monday morning, November 14, 2022. There were no reported injuries and the car is expected to be removed on Tuesday. (Photo by Katie Stewart/Alamy Live News)

Two men pull their boat over a railroad crossing in Nidderau-Eichen near Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, January 13, 2023. They came over the fields that were flooded by heavy rainfalls and continued their trip on the other side. (Photo by Michael Probst/AP Photo)

Muslim women offer “Tarawih” mass prayers during the first evening of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque in Solo, Central Java province, Indonesia, March 22, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. (Photo by Mohammad Ayudha/Antara Foto via Reuters)