UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                               -------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15 (d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                February 10, 2004

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                 CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

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         Delaware                      333-92383                 06-1397316
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
     of Incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

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                             251 Ballardvale Street
                         Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                  978-658-6000
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)





ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (a) Not applicable.

     (b) Not applicable.

     (c) Exhibits.

     This exhibit is furnished pursuant to Item 12 hereof and should not be
     deemed to be "filed" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     99.1   Press release dated February 10, 2004.


ITEM 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition

The following information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific
reference in such a filing.

On February 10, 2004, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. issued a
press release providing financial results for the fiscal quarter ended December
27, 2003. The press release, attached as an exhibit to this report, includes
"safe harbor" language pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995, as amended, indicating that certain statements about Charles River's
business contained in the press release are "forward-looking" rather than
historic. The press release also states that these and other risks relating to
Charles River are set forth in the documents filed by Charles River with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
we have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

                                  CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES
                                  INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Dated: February 10, 2004

                                 By: /s/ Dennis R. Shaughnessy
                                     ----------------------------------
                                     Dennis R. Shaughnessy, Senior Vice
                                     President, Corporate Development, General
                                     Counsel and Secretary


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                                  Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.                 Description
- -----------                 -----------

99.1                        Press release dated February 10, 2004.





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