A civil litigation attorney would be right. Some small claims courts allow Replevin suits as well, where you could do it yourself.In these cases, the replevin court can issue a judgment for you to take immediate possession of the animal without prior notice to the defendant. Customer: I was a defedent in a Writ of Replevin over a dog. Under New York Law, replevin is the correct cause of action to bring against a person who refuses to give you your comfort animal back. All dogs are required to be licensed at the age of four months and provide proof of a rabies vaccination that covers the term of the license. Basically, replevin is a term used to describe suing for the return of property, which is known as "chattel. " Pets generally fall into the "chattel" category. Replevin is an effective civil remedy to get your dog back. Noisy animal as defined in the Riverside Municipal Code §8.10.