A specialized restoration company will begin decontaminating the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter this week after smoke created by burning meth in the building's incinerator filled the building last month.

Once the cleaning is complete, the building will be eligible for a "certificate of fitness" from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, something required in order for the shelter to reopen.

Billings city administrator Chris Kukulski hopes to have testing done and the certificate in hand to have the building, which sits at the east end of Monad Road, ready to reopen by the end of the month.

The issue was sparked Sept. 11 when FBI personnel used the shelter's incinerator to dispose of seized meth. Smoke from the burn filled the building instead of escaping out the chimney af

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