Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
BROWN WILLIAM E
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO [CENT]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chairman and CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

1340 TREAT BLVD., SUITE 600
3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
09/26/2009
(Street)


WALNUT CREEK, CA 94597
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
11/04/2009
6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Class A Common Stock 05/27/2009   G 27,000 D $ 0 3,213,585 D  
Class A Common Stock 07/31/2009   G 39,700 D $ 0 3,173,885 D  
Class A Common Stock 07/31/2009   G 34,500 A $ 0 159,000 I (1) By Irrevocable Trusts
Class A Common Stock 09/23/2009   G 4,000 D $ 0 3,169,885 D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 10 12/23/2008   A4 250,000     (2) 06/18/2014 Class A Common Stock
250,000
$ 0 250,000
D
 
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 12.5 12/23/2008   A4 250,000     (2) 06/18/2014 Class A Common Stock
250,000
$ 0 250,000
D
 
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 15 12/23/2008   A4 250,000     (2) 06/18/2014 Class A Common Stock
250,000
$ 0 250,000
D
 
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 10 12/23/2008   A4 250,000     (3) 06/18/2014 Common Stock
250,000
$ 0 250,000
D
 
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 12.5 12/23/2008   A4 250,000     (3) 06/18/2014 Common Stock
250,000
$ 0 250,000
D
 
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 15 12/23/2008   A4 250,000     (3) 06/18/2014 Common Stock
250,000
$ 0 250,000
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
BROWN WILLIAM E
1340 TREAT BLVD., SUITE 600
WALNUT CREEK, CA 94597
  X   X   Chairman and CEO  

Signatures

/s/ William E. Brown 11/06/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) On July 31, 2009, the Reporting Person contributed a total aggregate amount of 34,500 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer for the benefit of various family Irrevocable Trusts. These securities are owned directly by each of the Irrevocable Trusts and indirectly by the Reporting Person and his spouse as co-trustees of the Irrevocable Trusts. The Reporting Person and his spouse, as co-trustees, have and share investment control over the securities held in each of the Irrevocable Trusts but disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities held by the Irrevocable Trusts except to the extent of his and his wife's pecuniary interest therein.
(2) On June 18, 2008, the Issuer's Compensation Committee granted the Reporting Person a performance-based premium priced option to purchase 250,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer, which option was reported in the Issuer's proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on January 2, 2009. The closing price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock on the date of grant was $4.07 per share. The option vests in five equal annual installments beginning June 18, 2009 based on the satisfaction of certain annual performance targets for each of the fiscal years ending September 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Issuer's Compensation Committee determined on December 23, 2008, that 60% of the performance targets for fiscal 2008 were met which resulted in the vesting on June 18, 2009, of the option to purchase 30,000 shares. The option to purchase the remaining 20,000 shares for fiscal 2008 may vest in the future if certain cumulative performance targets are met.
(3) On June 18, 2008, the Issuer's Compensation Committee granted the Reporting Person a performance-based premium priced option to purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer, which option was reported in the Issuer's proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on January 2, 2009. The closing price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the date of grant was $4.67 per share. The option vests in five equal annual installments beginning June 18, 2009 based on the satisfaction of certain annual performance targets for each of the fiscal years ending September 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Issuer's Compensation Committee determined on December 23, 2008, that 60% of the performance targets for fiscal 2008 were met which resulted in the vesting on June 18, 2009, of the option to purchase 30,000 shares. The option to purchase the remaining 20,000 shares for fiscal 2008 may vest in the future if certain cumulative performance targets are met.

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