BIRMINGHAM, Alabama ---  Alabama Voters for Responsible Animal Legislation (AVRAL) will host a party to celebrate the success the organization had in 2011. On Jan. 28, the group will celebrate Beckham’s Law going into effect Dec. 31.^. Beckham’s Law prohibits the gassing of shelter animals as a form of euthanasia.

Rep. Steve McMillan will be honored at this celebration. AVRAL will present him with their “Legislator of the Year” award for all of his hard work getting the bill passed into law.

“He (McMillan) told us he'd make our bill his top priority in the 2011 legislative session, and he held true to his promise. He contacted us with daily updates and fought hard for the bill's passage,” said Rhonda Parker, state chair of AVRAL.

The party will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Wolf Bay Lodge in Orange Beach. Food is free and there will be a cash bar.

Members and nonmembers alike are encouraged to attend. Please send questions and RSVP to lsmith4@samford.edu.

For more information on Alabama Voters for Responsible Animal Legislation (AVRAL), a nonpartisan Political Action Committee, visit www.alabamavotesforanimals.org/.