Dressed in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, Maria Berdieva poses for photos to help raise money for Ukrainian troops in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 10, 2023. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/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.

Japanese macaque monkeys enjoy sitting in the hot springs at Jigokudani-Onsen (Hell Valley) on January 23, 2005 in Jigokudani, Nagano-Prefecture, Japan. Japanese Macaques, also known as snow monkeys are the most northerly nonhuman primate in the world. In 1963 a female Macaque ventured into the hot springs to retrieve some soybeans. This behaviour was adopted by other monkeys, and eventually by the entire troop. This Macaque troop regularly visits the Jigokudani-Onsen springs to escape the cold. The hot springs are said to help relieve nerve pain and fatigue. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

A serviceman of the 148th Separate Artillery Zhytomyr Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine sits near shells as he and a soldier await command to fire a M777 Howitzer towards Russian troops at a position in a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on February 8, 2025. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters)

Models kiss the back of another model, with a message on her back, during the grand finale of Lotus Make-up India Fashion Week based on “Rainbow” theme, an emblem for the LGBTQ community, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, October 14, 2018. According to Fashion Design Council of India, the “Rainbow” show, wherein 40 designers showcased their creations, was a tribute to mark the historic judgement by the Supreme Court of India which struck down a colonial-era law that made homosexual acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison. (Photo by Altaf Qadri/AP Photo)

A Pakistani devotee dances to celebrate the three-day annual festival to pay tribute to the famous saint Al-Sheikh Ali Bin Usman Al-Hajveri known as Data Ganjbaksh at outside his shrine in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, November 20, 2016. Thousands of people traveled from all over Pakistan to attend the celebrations. (Photo by K.M. Chaudary/AP Photo)

Brazilian singer Anitta performs during the “Ensaios de Anitta” show, an event that is part of a pre-carnival tour that makes its way through several Brazilian cities, paying tribute to a samba school in each performance at the Jockey Club of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 21 January 2024. Anitta only performs this time of year in her country and said that experiencing a carnival is the best way to get to know the Brazilian people because all the energy of its people is concentrated on a single topic. (Photo by Andre Coelho/EPA/EFE)

Amy Winehouse's father Mitch Winehouse (C) mother Janis Winehouse (L in white) brother Alex Winehouse (R) and former boyfriend Reg Traviss (2nd R) look at floral tributes left at her house by fans on July 25, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)