Legal Status of a Non-Profit Organization and Its Impact on the Mode of Initiating Proceedings under Art. 7 (3) of the Polish Animal Protection Act

The article focuses on the issue of the legal status of a non-profit organization, whose statutory purpose is to protect animals in the administrative proceedings under Art. 7 (3) of the Polish Animal Protection Act, which is the subject of discrepancy of interpretations in the jurisprudence of administrative courts. The institution of temporary collection of an animal regulated in Art. 7 (3) of the Polish Animal Protection Act is of fundamental importance for humanitarian protection of animals in Poland. In theory it consists of taking away the mistreated animal from its owner and subsequent confirmation of that fact through the administrative decision issued by the executive body of the municipality. The study deals with the problem of its legal interest in the proceedings and, as a consequence, it analyses its position as a party or entity as a party in the proceedings. Determining the status of a non-profit organization in proceedings is crucial for resolving another problem raised in the article, namely the mode in which proceeding under Art. 7 (3) of the Polish Animal Protection Act is being initiated.