Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. celebrates after winning the women's slalom competition with Santa Claus during the FIS Ski World Cup in Levi, Finland on November 20, 2022. (Photo by Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via Reuters)

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) crashes into fans during the second half of the game against the LA Clippers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on February 16, 2023. (Photo by Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports)

Dallas Cowboys cheerleader performs during the game against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on October 13, 2024. (Photo by Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports via 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.

Maria Menounos and Derek Hough sit courtside as the Celtics play the Lakers in Los Angeles, March 2012. (Photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

The sky looked on fire this morning, as it made the clouds glow red, just before sunrise at Peterborough Rowing Lake, in Nene Park, UK on January 18, 2017. (Photo by Paul Marriott/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

The world’s first all diamond ring was revealed by Shawish Jewelry and boasts 150 carats carved from a singe-faceted diamond. The all diamond ring costs a pretty penny at a whopping $68 million. I wonder with celebrity will try to nab it. The idea of an all diamond ring seemed to be a fantasy, yet the epitome of art.

Anna Malova, Miss Russia 1998, poses on a pool table at The Campbell Apartment restaurant in Grand Central Station on November 18, 1999. She makes her motion picture debut in the movie “Above Ground”. (Photo by Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)