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I don't know of anyone who hasn't fallen in love with Lil BUB, one of the major cat stars of the internet. I first "met" Lil BUB in one of her videos and fell in love just like everyone else. This little cutie was the runt of a feral litter in a tool shed in real Indiana. She was taken in as a rescue when it was clear she would require special care.
Lil BUB and her very best friend (and personal servant), owner Mike Bridavsky, have created something of a kitty empire with a Billboard topping album, a book, hosting her own TV show and raising over $300,000 for charity. You'd think that with all of that there was nothing left to accomplish, but you'd be wrong.
Lil BUB and Mike have teamed up with indie game developer and Lucas Arts veterans, HappyGiant, to create a wonderfully realistic 3D virtual Lil BUB. Now her fans can play, feed and care for their own virtual Lil BUB with the App called InstaKitty 3D, available for iOS and Android.
InstaKitty 3D is a proud supporter of Lil BUB's Big Fund for the ASPCA, and as with all official BUB products, a percentage of all BUB sales will go to her fund.
I'll admit that I was concerned about precisely where the money would go to the ASPCA, possibly to be funneled into salaries and office expenses, or would it really go to help the animals? Call me jaded but I had to ask the question before deciding if I would bring this to my readers.
Mike, who also serves as Lil BUB's spokesperson, said he "had the same sentiment when entering into an agreement with the ASPCA. The only way I would agree to partner with them is if 100% of the funds raised by me for the Fund went directly to shelters around the country to help with their special needs pets, and to accomplish this it took almost a year of contractual and legal negotiations. So, yes, absolutely 100% of the money raised goes to the FUND, and when the FUND reaches a specific amount of money, the ASPCA Grants Department announces that applications are being accepted, and then they go through all of the submissions, and the money is awarded to shelters chosen by the Grants Department. To date, the FUND has administered $200,000 in funding to over a hundred shelters around the country."
That, Dear Readers, is why I agreed to write about the new App, but I cannot conceive of why it took almost an entire year to reach the agreement. Why wasn't the ASPCA jumping on this immediately with the money raised going directly to the FUND? They say they are about animals and this was a golden opportunity to put money where it was most needed. But those questions are rhetorical. I want to help Lil BUB and Mike raise more funds to help local shelters help local cats and dogs around the country.
"While I do have a document detailing the specifics of our agreement, that's confidential information and can't be shared," Mike adds. The 2015 Annual Report is still being assembled but should be finished, available and announced this month.
HappyGiant's team worked closely with Lil BUB and Mike to ensure that every aspect of Lil BUB was completely accurate. Her adorable personality has been recreated with real BUB sounds, mannerisms and idiosyncrasies. You will be able to have your own virtual Lil BUB to play with anytime!
"The team at HappyGiant did an incredible job," said Mike. "BUB and I worked very closely with their team and animators to ensure that all of her unique movements and mannerisms were accurately recreated. As the Number One Expert on BUB I have to say that I was stunned with the results. It's as close to the real BUB as you can get."
Here's the Trailer for the App so you can see for yourself:
The game features many customized Bub items. What a fun way to help raise money for special needs shelter pets around the country!
Here are the links to download the App:
iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instakitty-3d-virtual-cat/id962039537?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.happygiant.instakitty3d&hl=en
NOTE: I was not paid for this blog post. I received a link to the App so I could see it for myself.
Lil BUB and her very best friend (and personal servant), owner Mike Bridavsky, have created something of a kitty empire with a Billboard topping album, a book, hosting her own TV show and raising over $300,000 for charity. You'd think that with all of that there was nothing left to accomplish, but you'd be wrong.
InstaKitty 3D is a proud supporter of Lil BUB's Big Fund for the ASPCA, and as with all official BUB products, a percentage of all BUB sales will go to her fund.
I'll admit that I was concerned about precisely where the money would go to the ASPCA, possibly to be funneled into salaries and office expenses, or would it really go to help the animals? Call me jaded but I had to ask the question before deciding if I would bring this to my readers.
Mike, who also serves as Lil BUB's spokesperson, said he "had the same sentiment when entering into an agreement with the ASPCA. The only way I would agree to partner with them is if 100% of the funds raised by me for the Fund went directly to shelters around the country to help with their special needs pets, and to accomplish this it took almost a year of contractual and legal negotiations. So, yes, absolutely 100% of the money raised goes to the FUND, and when the FUND reaches a specific amount of money, the ASPCA Grants Department announces that applications are being accepted, and then they go through all of the submissions, and the money is awarded to shelters chosen by the Grants Department. To date, the FUND has administered $200,000 in funding to over a hundred shelters around the country."
That, Dear Readers, is why I agreed to write about the new App, but I cannot conceive of why it took almost an entire year to reach the agreement. Why wasn't the ASPCA jumping on this immediately with the money raised going directly to the FUND? They say they are about animals and this was a golden opportunity to put money where it was most needed. But those questions are rhetorical. I want to help Lil BUB and Mike raise more funds to help local shelters help local cats and dogs around the country.
"While I do have a document detailing the specifics of our agreement, that's confidential information and can't be shared," Mike adds. The 2015 Annual Report is still being assembled but should be finished, available and announced this month.
HappyGiant's team worked closely with Lil BUB and Mike to ensure that every aspect of Lil BUB was completely accurate. Her adorable personality has been recreated with real BUB sounds, mannerisms and idiosyncrasies. You will be able to have your own virtual Lil BUB to play with anytime!
"The team at HappyGiant did an incredible job," said Mike. "BUB and I worked very closely with their team and animators to ensure that all of her unique movements and mannerisms were accurately recreated. As the Number One Expert on BUB I have to say that I was stunned with the results. It's as close to the real BUB as you can get."
Here's the Trailer for the App so you can see for yourself:
The game features many customized Bub items. What a fun way to help raise money for special needs shelter pets around the country!
Here are the links to download the App:
iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instakitty-3d-virtual-cat/id962039537?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.happygiant.instakitty3d&hl=en
NOTE: I was not paid for this blog post. I received a link to the App so I could see it for myself.
9 comments:
So glad you brought this to your readers, Darlene. I think the InstaKitty 3-D is great. What a wonderful thing Lil Bub's owner is doing for shelters and special needs animals. Bless him.
I think this a great idea and it's wonderful that so much is being done for shelters and special needs animals, without a lot money being eaten up in administration costs.
The "Lil BUB Stars in InstaKitty 3D" is also the perfect substitute for those unable to "be owned" by a real live furry companion.
Thank you very much for sharing this with us, Darlene. I'm sure that it is appreciated by many people.
Love this story about Lil Bub and the app he stars in. Thanks for reviewing it and letting everyone know how to get it. What a cute cat! He's not only special needs, he's SPECIAL.
RJ Peters
Thank you, Rescuegal, for commenting. I agree, it really is a wonderful thing Mike is doing for shelters and Special Needs animals. It's something I HAD to share!
Thank you, Gordon, for commenting. I agree that it's a great idea and it's wonderful that so much is being done for shelters and special needs animals. The App is so wonderfully realistic!!
Thank you so much for commenting, RJ, and for signing your name when it came up as anonymous. I appreciate your comments and especially agree that he's SPECIAL. I don't know of anyone else giving back like that and helping other special needs animals.
If you're jaded, then so am I. (I'm still scrutinizing the partnership between Subaru and the ASPCA; and we own two of them - Subarus.)
I love Bub and her family! Best cat to take the internet by storm EVER! I need another phone app like another pet (I have 8, plus a foster dog), but I'm gonna check this out. I think I could get into giving Bub a bath (if it's available) every now and then.
P.S. Followed your link from the BlogPaws learning community. ☺
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your comment! You're not jaded and neither am I , we are just informed. :-) I posted something about 2 years ago, about "charities," and why you shouldn't give to the big ones, why you should donate locally, to grass root instead. I'm so glad you're scrutinizing the partnership between Subaru and the ASPCA. Our readers depend upon them to share all of the details, especially if something is awry. We can only hope and pray that more people heed and share any warnings, red flags, etc.
I hear you about the app. LOL This, however, is special and I really need to tweet it out again.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for following the link!
BUB is a very special, one of a kind critter.
More specifically, she is the most amazing cat on the planet.
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