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 reveler jumps from a fountain onto the crowd below, after the launch of the “Chupinazo” rocket, to celebrate the official opening of the 2014 San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Sunday, July 6, 2014. Revelers from around the world turned out here to kick off the festival with a messy party in the Pamplona town square, one day before the first of eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises”. (Photo by Andres Kudacki/AP Photo)

English singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis Bextor (C) performs with Kevin Jeremiah, Dan Gillespie Sells and Richard Jones of The Feeling at Clapham Grand on December 13, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Lorne Thomson/Redferns)

Nancy Ponce of Donna gets her hair done in the tag team creativity cut during the 2nd Annual El Grito Barber Derby competition at club Famoso Fuego Sunday, September 18, 2022 in McAllen. (Photo by Delcia Lopez/The Monitor via AP Photo)

A man dressed as Santa Claus lights a Christmas tree on City Hall square in Copenhagen, Denmark, on November 27, 2022. (Photo by Sergei Gapon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

An artist (R) gives finishing touches to a New Year mural painted on his house in Chennai on December 29, 2022. (Photo by Arun Sankar/AFP Photo)

A participant with a painted face takes part in Delhi Queer Pride March, an event promoting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights, in New Delhi, India on January 8, 2023. (Photo by Adnan Abidi/Reuters)

Aerial photo shows people enjoying the blooming plum blossoms in Zhuyuwan scenic spot in Yangzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province on February 23, 2023. (Photo by Rex Features/Shutterstock)