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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O6sDfU1le66HmU5twICdP5ORxSjJ/ucZfgp+HEKcgaZkoJRWY7iEwzIQyUkc3Lel
 WwZOw6ZbOqMQHhIOJ7C4yg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000919574-07-005835.txt : 20071217
<SEC-HEADER>0000919574-07-005835.hdr.sgml : 20071217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071217165002
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000919574-07-005835
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071217

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887733
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MISCELLANEOUS NONDURABLE GOODS [5190]
		IRS NUMBER:				680275553
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1340 TREAT BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			WALNUT CREEK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94597
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9259484000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1340 TREAT BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			WALNUT CREEK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94597

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941019

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LUCE MICHAEL D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233573

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33268
		FILM NUMBER:		071310535

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125216972

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35244

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARBERT RAYMOND J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233571

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33268
		FILM NUMBER:		071310536

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125216972

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35244

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FALCONE PHILIP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233569

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33268
		FILM NUMBER:		071310537

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125216972

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		555 MADISON AVE
		STREET 2:		16TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARBERT MANAGEMENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001259933

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33268
		FILM NUMBER:		071310538

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35244
		BUSINESS PHONE:		205-987-5500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35244
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>p839394_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>HARBERT/CENTRAL GARDEN
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL GARDEN &amp; PET CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CENT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259933</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARBERT MANAGEMENT CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35244</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233569</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FALCONE PHILIP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 MADISON AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233571</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARBERT RAYMOND J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35244</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233573</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUCE MICHAEL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35244</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2200000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, ltd.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1100000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities are owned by Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd. (the &quot;Master Fund&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Harbinger Capital Partners Offshore Manager, L.L.C. (&quot;Harbinger
 Management&quot;), the investment manager of the Master Fund, HMC Investors, L.L.C., its managing member (&quot;HMC Investors&quot;),
 Harbert Management Corporation (&quot;HMC&quot;), the managing member of HMC Investors, Philip Falcone, a shareholder of HMC and the
 portfolio manager of the Master Fund, Raymond J. Harbert, a shareholder of HMC, and Michael D. Luce, a shareholder of HMC.
 Each such Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his or its
 pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial
 owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other
 purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These securities are owned by Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P. (the &quot;Special Situations Fund&quot;).
 These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by HMC, Philip Falcone, Raymond J. Harbert and Michael Luce.  HMC
 wholly owns the managing member of the Special Situations Fund's general partner.  Philip Falcone is the portfolio manager
 of the Special Situations Fund and is a shareholder of HMC.  Raymond J. Harbert and Michael D. Luce are shareholders of HMC.
  Each such Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his or its
 pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial
 owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other
 purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Harbert Management Corporation, By: /s/ William R. Lucas, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip Falcone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Raymond J. Harbert</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael D. Luce</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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