The Calgary Herald put a human face to the dog treat recall in Canada Saturday.

On Thursday, March 13, 2008, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Rollover Premium Pet Food Ltd. warned consumers not to purchase or use certain Roll Over Pork Tenders Premium Dog Treat described below because it may be contaminated with the bacteria responsible for salmonellosis in humans. … There has been one illness reported associated with this product.

The Herald reported on March 15, 2008, that 13-year-old Brandon Jacklin will never handle a dog treat the same way after contracting salmonella from contaminated pork treats and losing 15 pounds during his medical ordeal that initially baffled health officials and frightened his family.

The story says it was only after an official with the Calgary Health Region recalled a similar contamination problem nine years earlier involving dog treats — from the same company, Rollover Premium Pet Food  — did the family start to get answers.

Jacklin’s mom said,

"I had no idea that normal dog treats you take out of a bag could make someone so sick," adding the health inspector was very diligent in tracking down the source of the illness. Now the Jacklin family is extra vigilant after dealing with dog treats, ensuring they sanitize their hands afterwards.

The Calgary Health Region would not comment on the case, until they receive more information from the health official who investigated.

So the officer who cracked the case, informed the family and triggered a national recall, didn’t supply enough information to his or her bosses in Calgary?

Not the first time the Calgary Health Region — not the individual inspectors — has been, uh, slow.