EDMONTON -- Health officials have launched an investigation after the skinned carcasses of four canine animals were found in an Edmonton restaurant freezer.

Edmonton Humane Society constables and environmental health officers removed the carcasses from the Panda Garden restaurant early yesterday.

They had been tipped off by strip mall security guards.

The carcasses have been handed over to Alberta Fish and Wildlife officials, who are conducting an autopsy to determine whether the animals are dogs or coyotes and whether the meat is infected.

Capital Health environmental health officer Richard Reive says the carcasses are "uninspected meat," regardless of whether they turn out to be coyotes or dogs.

The restaurant has been closed.

Reive says the carcasses were found on the floor of the restaurant's walk-in freezer.

He says two were in black plastic garbage bags but the others were uncovered when he inspected the freezer.