WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 2005--Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) today announced that it is assisting in the support of Dogs4Diabetics, a non-profit charitable organization of dedicated volunteers who are training quality medical-alert dogs for Type 1 diabetic youth and adults.

Dogs4Diabetics was established in 2004 as a result of critical research derived from The Armstrong Project. The Armstrong Project is named after Armstrong, a three-year-old male yellow Labrador Retriever, who was obtained in October 2003 from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. and was trained to be a medical alert service dog.

"We are proud to contribute to the growth and success of the Dogs4Diabetics program," said Glenn Novotny, President and CEO of Central Garden & Pet . "This is an excellent example of dogs being trained to save lives by detecting life threatening illnesses with their noses. We should never underestimate the skills, love, and devotion dogs provide to us."

Mark Ruefenacht, Founder of Dogs for Diabetics, Inc. has combined his skills from working in the forensic field and his volunteer work training service dogs to train Armstrong to detect the scent of low blood sugar and alert Mark, his handler and other diabetics. Dogs4Diabetics is training other dogs to have the same skills as Armstrong, with the eventual goal of placing dogs with children who have Type-1 diabetes.

    The Dogs4Diabetics purpose includes:

    --  Training and certifying dogs for hypoglycemia (low blood
        glucose) medical alert;

    --  Studying and developing training protocols for the
        Dogs4Diabetics program;

    --  Training diabetic youth and adults for the proper use and care
        of the dogs;

    --  Qualifying diabetic youth and adults for placement and service
        of the dogs;

    --  Placement follow-up services;

    --  Educating businesses, organizations and the public to the uses
        and rights of certified Dogs4Diabetics medical alert dogs.

Mark Ruefenacht has diabetes which requires him to give himself insulin injections. One evening, he took extra insulin so he could have dessert. He then made the mistake of going to bed without checking his blood sugar. The extra insulin caused Ruefenacht's blood sugar to drop very low.

"I know that without the help of Benton, a one-year-old black Labrador puppy who pawed and barked at me, I may not have awakened that evening, and I might not be here today. Dogs are true life savers."

For information regarding Dogs4Diabetics and The Armstrong Project, please contact:

    Dogs For Diabetics, Inc.
    1647 Willow Pass Road, #157
    Concord, CA 94520-2611
    info@dogs4diabetics.com
    www.dogs4diabetics.com

Central Garden & Pet Company is a leading innovator, marketer and producer of quality branded products for the pet and lawn and garden supplies markets. Our pet products include pet bird and small animal food, aquarium products, flea, tick, mosquito and other pest control products, edible bones, cages, carriers, pet books, and other dog, cat, reptile and small animal products. These products are sold under a number of brand names, including Kaytee, Super Pet, All-Glass Aquarium, Oceanic, Kent Marine, Energy Savers Unlimited, Zodiac, Pre-Strike, Altosid, Nylabone, TFH, Four Paws and Interpet. Our lawn and garden products include grass seed, wild bird food, weed and insect control products, decorative outdoor patio products and ant control products. These products are sold under a number of brand names, including Pennington, Norcal Pottery, New England Pottery, GKI/Bethlehem Lighting, Lilly Miller, Matthews Four Seasons, Cedar Works, AMDRO, Grant's, Sevin and Over'n Out. For additional information on Central Garden & Pet , including access to the Company's SEC filings, please visit the Company's website at http://www.centralgardenandpet.com/.

    CONTACT: Central Garden & Pet

             Paul Warburg, 925-948-3686

    SOURCE: Central Garden & Pet Company