Bone at hospital site was from dog - police

A bone found at the site of a former Dunedin psychiatric hospital belongs to a dog, police have confirmed.

Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said police were called to Truby King Reserve near the former Seacliff asylum yesterday afternoon. 

Two members of the public discovered what appeared to be a human femur bone and an old patient tag in a "shallow grave" within the grounds.

Police seized the bone for examination and it was found to be the remains of a dog, Sgt Lee said this afternoon. 

laine.priestley@odt.co.nz