The aim of this paper is to present solutions that would improve the protection of animals in Croatia, for the purpose of changing the legal treatment of animals as objects. Animals are living beings having value as themselves, and not exclusively as things satisfying existential and other human needs. Different understanding of legal subjectivity throughout history is shown and legal status of animals as objects in Croatian legislation, along with selected comparative systems, partially separating animals from the property law regime, is also presented. Furthermore, samples of lawsuits are exhibited, in which consequences of lacking legal subjectivity of animals are problematized. Assumptions of procedural protection of animals in court proceedings are presented, with emphasis on the legal interest of people in protection of animals as part of nature and human environment, which are the greatest value of the constitutional order. Procedural legitimacy through legal representatives and animal ombudsman were analyzed. In conclusion, the mechanisms of judicial protection of animals in comparative legal systems through the institute of animal ombudsman and animal representatives in court proceedings were investigated as useful guide towards realization of potentials of Croatia in the field of animal protection.