Review: 41741 Dog Rescue Van
Posted by MeganL,Every time I think we've seen just about everything in the Friends universe, the set designers surprise me again. This time, it's 41741 Dog Rescue Van. While there have been wild animal rescue Friends sets, this is the first I've seen in an urban setting.
Having two rescue dogs myself, I was interested to build this set.
Summary
41741 Dog Rescue Van, 300 pieces.
£24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99 | 8.3p/10.0c/10.0c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Charming vehicle set with an interesting twist
- Removable truck allowing for greater play
- New faces for minidolls
- Pickle the dog!
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Inside the bag there are three numbered bags, two instructions books (allowing concurrent building), and a small sticker sheet.
Unlike some of the other sets from this wave, the instruction book did not include a location for this set. I expect that being a mobile set, it wouldn't be in one place for very long!
Minidolls and animals
There are two minidolls in this set - Nova, one of the Friends, and Dr. Marlon. Nova is the techie Friend of the group, something that's quite clear from the pixelated graphic design on her shirt as well as her phone display. Dr. Marlon mans the rescue van and is wearing a shirt with a pawprint logo, presumably indicating he works with the dog rescue. All torsos, legs, and heads are new to this set.
This set is the story of how Nova meets Pickle, her dog. The set has two heads available for Nova - a smiling face for when she takes care of Pickle, and a sad face. It is so nice to see more expressions on minidolls!
This is a first for Friends dogs - Pickle has wheels to help his weak hind end. Pickle is adorable and almost looks a little wistful.
The completed model
The set consists of two main builds - the first being Pickle's temporary home. Pickle has taken residence in an empty box at a bus stop, despite the very clear signage that dogs are not allowed in the area! Meanwhile, the ad on the bus stop bench is for the rescue operation that will ultimately help Pickle. I very much like the designers' sense of irony here.
There's a simple push mechanism included behind the box to propel Pickle out from his cardboard box home. It appears that Pickle has been staying in the area for a while! There's also a lost and found flyer on the ground (surprisingly, it's a printed tile) that would undoubtedly be much more effective if it was posted on the bus stop.
Fortunately, Pickle isn't alone for long.
(Note: sloths not included in this set.)
Before long, Pickle is spotted, and along comes the Rescue Van!
Friends designers continue to find ways to surprise. This dog rescue van includes everything one can think of to help dogs, but the entire operational module can be removed from the truck and played with separately. I think this is a genius twist.
The back part of the truck hinges open. On one side is a mobile bath with runing water, a brush, and a soap bottle. Pickle will get clean! The centre part of the module shows a work station to help work on Pickle's wheels, along with a stickered detail of tracking a rescue dog's pertinent details, including poop!
The other side of the rescue van has accessories plus some other essentials, such as food and water and an enormous box of dog kibble.
The whole rescue van operation is in a pretty compact space.
Overall thoughts
I think this is a nice little set. The inclusivity message continues with Pickle, and I really enjoy the story that's unfolding here. The Friends designers had mentioned that there were more stories in this wave, and this is one of them - Nova meeting her pet. I also like that this is the first (that I've built) in this wave where we've had a Friend with an alternate expression.
I love that Friends designers put in moving function where they can, and the small one of Pickle emerging from the box is a nice example of that. It's something that didn't need to be put in, but it was.
I think the best part of the set is the vehicle with the removable portion. Again, having the set with all the details packed in the back was expected - but having a removable portion that opens, allowing for greater play? What a great feature!
The Friends team is definitely on its A game for this wave so far.
104 likes
35 comments on this article
Daughter immediately identified with Nova, so will be a for sure purchase for us. Initially looked a bit basic but great review to highlight some of the extra features.
This is one of three Friends sets I have purchased so far from this year, and I love it. However, my Nova minifig has stiff arms in comparison to other minidolls, and they felt weak. I’m wondering if anyone else is having this issue.
'Pickle the dog' sounds like some kind of instruction . . .
The first image in the opening (before the pro/con box) leads to a 403 error btw :)
This, to me, is how a perfect set is. Great idea, plenty of playability and just unique enough that you (or your child) will want to come back to it time and again. I'll be buying one for myself and one for my youngest son.
Also, as a side note, I think we are LONG overdue for Friends minidolls to come with dual expression heads. Nice to see this and I hope that LEGO continues to offer this.
Yeesh, kind of a bummer set - someone in Heartlake was actually cruel enough to abandon a handicapped dog next to a bus stop?
Say what you want about Lego City's police state, nobody would have the bricks to attempt something THAT brazen out of fear of being caught.
@WemWem said:
"Say what you want about Lego City's police state, nobody would have the bricks to attempt something THAT brazen out of fear of being caught."
The police do not have a good track record with dogs.
@WemWem said:
"Lego City's police state"
its WHAT????
Gee, I thought someone would have put up the old soundbite of "NOOOOO!!!!!! DOGS!!!!!! ALLLLOOOOWWWEEEDDD!!!!!!!!!" from the old Peanuts special to really emphasize the fact that no dogs were allowed at the bus stop.
Hope Pickle finds a good home.
"No Dogs Allowed"
I have never hated a sticker more in my entire life.
This is such a cute set! The rescue van is really clever how it folds up, as are the bus stop and the overturned cardboard box. I really like the way this set, 41727, and 41755 together tell a story of how Pickle is rescued and finds a loving home.
I also already love Nova as a character and her various designs. In this set she's wearing a pixelated ghost shirt that looks a bit like an off-brand Twitch.tv logo (appropriate for someone who's into gaming), and her phone seems to show a Pokémon Go-esque app (the character from which also appears on her shirt in 41733).
A dog has been left in a cardboard box in Heartlake City! Start the new Dog Rescue Van!
HEY!
Build the van, and off to the rescue! Prepare the module, add the doggy wheels, and make the rescue.
The new Humanitarian Collection from LEGO FRIENDS!
Nice little set, Friends is continuing its strong run!
That said, I do feel €30 is a bit much for what you get. Not so much the PPP, that's perfectly okay, but the "volume of stuff" as Jang often puts it. A decent sized car, a small side build, 2 figs and a dog, that feels more like a €20, maybe €25 set, not €30. Especially not from Friends, which has usually been above average when it comes to value for money.
Still nothing a bit of discount can't solve, and at least you do get a good product for your money.
@R1_Drift said:
" @WemWem said:
"Lego City's police state"
its WHAT????"
Notice how all emergency and government services in LEGO City have been slowly but surely phased out, replaced by a vastly increased police presence. The police now outnumber civilians in LEGO City by a solid margin, and they seem to have eliminated all train services- there's no way out! I do wonder what's going on with the fire service... have they capitulated to the police force, or are they accomplices in the suppression of LEGO Citizens? It's troubling...
@Mr__Thrawn
"suppression of LEGO Citizens?"
Whilst your evidence regarding everything else was spot on, have the citizens been oppressed? Maybe it's like Italy, where the ingroup is the nation (citizens, and those being oppressed are those who rebel/wish to separate (crooks).
Or maybe it's like the cold war, with the crooks being weak and ineffective, but the fear of said crooks lead to such an increase in the defense budget. idk man i think we're reading too much into this.
Kinda a sad, depressing set if I’m being honest. Would never think Heartlake City would ever need a dog rescue van to begin with :(
@Mr__Thrawn said:
" @R1_Drift said:
" @WemWem said:
"Lego City's police state"
its WHAT????"
Notice how all emergency and government services in LEGO City have been slowly but surely phased out, replaced by a vastly increased police presence. The police now outnumber civilians in LEGO City by a solid margin, and they seem to have eliminated all train services- there's no way out! I do wonder what's going on with the fire service... have they capitulated to the police force, or are they accomplices in the suppression of LEGO Citizens? It's troubling..."
Just wait until everyone is forced to be happy, smiling all the time, and exactly the same as everyone else in a Orwellian-type way, like in THX-1138. Hey, why not get rid of waistlines and eyeshadow while you're at it. Simpler printing too...
@Mr__Thrawn said:
" @R1_Drift said:
" @WemWem said:
"Lego City's police state"
its WHAT????"
Notice how all emergency and government services in LEGO City have been slowly but surely phased out, replaced by a vastly increased police presence. The police now outnumber civilians in LEGO City by a solid margin, and they seem to have eliminated all train services- there's no way out! I do wonder what's going on with the fire service... have they capitulated to the police force, or are they accomplices in the suppression of LEGO Citizens? It's troubling..."
Even 60374 looks like a barely-disguised military vehicle.
@dimc said:
" @Mr__Thrawn said:
" @R1_Drift said:
" @WemWem said:
"Lego City's police state"
its WHAT????"
Notice how all emergency and government services in LEGO City have been slowly but surely phased out, replaced by a vastly increased police presence. The police now outnumber civilians in LEGO City by a solid margin, and they seem to have eliminated all train services- there's no way out! I do wonder what's going on with the fire service... have they capitulated to the police force, or are they accomplices in the suppression of LEGO Citizens? It's troubling..."
Even 60374 looks like a barely-disguised military vehicle. "
This is what we get when we skip out on a Dino Attack second wave.
@GBP_Chris said:
" @dimc said:
" @Mr__Thrawn said:
" @R1_Drift said:
" @WemWem said:
"Lego City's police state"
its WHAT????"
Notice how all emergency and government services in LEGO City have been slowly but surely phased out, replaced by a vastly increased police presence. The police now outnumber civilians in LEGO City by a solid margin, and they seem to have eliminated all train services- there's no way out! I do wonder what's going on with the fire service... have they capitulated to the police force, or are they accomplices in the suppression of LEGO Citizens? It's troubling..."
Even 60374 looks like a barely-disguised military vehicle. "
This is what we get when we skip out on a Dino Attack second wave."
I learned about this theme the other day. Absolutely cursed.
If this was a City set (thus, minifugures) with features like that I'd be really interested. Less convinced by the built-in story, seems less open-ended.
I have to say, though, I don't consider 12 stickers to be a "small" sticker sheet.
I like the design of the bus stop and the cardboard box. Did Pickle have the wheelchair for his hindlegs *before* he was abandoned, though? Because, damn, that's dark.
I miss old friends
@R1_Drift said:
" @Mr__Thrawn
"suppression of LEGO Citizens?"
Whilst your evidence regarding everything else was spot on, have the citizens been oppressed?"
Look into their eyes and tell me that they still believe they’re loved by God
I'd thought this was a 4+ set because of the solid blue bottom looked like one of those one-piece chassis, so when I saw the sticker sheet I did a double take.
@Lee_Fogel: They've done dual heads before. 41701, for instance.
@Mr__Thrawn said:
"Look into their eyes and tell me that they still believe they’re loved by God"
sorry cant look you in the eyes its online but,,,,
they are loved by god. except for the crooks, they aren't loved.
It bothers me the bottom parts of the floor in the second-to-last photo aren't pushed down all the way.
Also Pickles better be careful in that "home", I hear Snakes love Cardboard Boxes. ;)
1. I'm very pro such theme.
2. My only gripe is that the stray dog should not have wheels on the package, while living in the card box. It either makes no sense, or has too grim of a connotation.
3. I don't get the "no dog" shoved in the box. Is it a cruel prank? If it's an official sign, than someone made an effort to stick it up to the doggie's habitat. Should have been placed separately.
This is disgusting, it's breaking my heart to look at. There should be some boundaries. This is just f..king cruel.
Those sloths always make me smile :D . I'm really glad we get new range of emotions for friends. As far as I can tell (please correct me if I'm wrong), this is the first time we get a sad face print for minidolls!
Wouldn't really buy this set but man, Pickle the dog looks so cute!
@DoonsterBuildsLego said:
"If this was a City set (thus, minifugures) with features like that I'd be really interested. Less convinced by the built-in story, seems less open-ended."
I think we’re all agreed that in this scenario, in City the rescue van would be replaced with a SWAT team
@dimc said:
" @WemWem said:
"Say what you want about Lego City's police state, nobody would have the bricks to attempt something THAT brazen out of fear of being caught."
The police do not have a good track record with dogs. "
At least the police started training their dogs 60369: Mobile Police Dog Training
Dogs have been in many City Police sets since 2005, but there never was a dedicated dog training set, after the little training area showed up on the 2022 police station as well.
Every time lately that I look at a Friends set and kind of dismiss it, I'm subsequently and positively shocked by a review from @MeganL that shows incredible design. That Friends' team is bad-ass!
This set and the tiny house are just the most recent examples. Boy! I wish the SW or City team was this good and showed this level of passion for cool and fun details. There are too many $200 starships with fewer interior features than this set.
Oh wow! …there really is an abandoned dog in this set!
Note to Brickset: perhaps there could be a ‘Most Real’ competition every year to determine what LEGO set best depicted something shameful, depressing, or whatever you think ‘Real’ might be. Even Joyous fun could work. …This set would likely be a finalist!
LEGO, my kids will love this set. …even if the narrative is heavy. - Great vehicle design, too.