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.

David Bowie wears an eyepatch in red suit and guitar on blue background at Top Pop television studios in Holland while doing playback to his hit song Rebel Rebel in 1974. (Photo by Barry Schultz/Sunshine/REX Shutterstock)

A comedic photo of a cheetah appearing to find something hilarious by Dutton Robert for the Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2016, South Africa, April, 2012. (Photo by Dutton Robert/Barcroft Images/Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards)

British fashion model Twiggy plays around on the bumper cars at the Bertram Mills Circus in London, England on January 10, 1967. (Photo by AP 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.

Model Emily Ratajkowski attends Vogue Party as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 at on October 1, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images)

Model Amber Rose attends the Maxim Hot 100 Party at the Hollywood Palladium on July 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

A man holds a gun under his chin as he speaks with members of the NYPD outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., December 2, 2021. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Reuters)