We knew this day would come, but it doesn't make it any easier. The Shiba Inu puppies we have become attached to after creepily watching them day in and day out on the puppy cam are growing up and moving on.

The puppies are now 8 weeks old, which means they're ready to leave the nest. They'll be adopted by families and start their new lives off line. To commemorate this milestone, the Sun Sentinel has created the emotional slideshow seen above that contains many similar looking pictures, but nevertheless tugs at our fragile heart strings.

In a time when the economy was bringing everyone down, the puppies gave us a real reason to hope. Now that they are leaving us, I know that I will be simply inconsolable. That is until the next internet phenomenon worms its way into my heart.