Dr. Herman Varnick

Dr. Herman Varnick is the main antagonist of the 1992 family comedy movie Beethoven. He is a dog-napper who took on the guise of a vet - he was employed by a weapons-dealer to test new bullets and targetted Beethoven as he required a dog with a large skull to check the effeciency of the bullet.

He was portrayed by Dean Jones.

Biography
In order to take Beethoven from the Newton family, he first gave false information by claiming St. Bernards were naturally aggressive (in reality they are the opposite except for Cujo but only because of his condition) -- he then visited their home and tricked them into believing Beethoven had been bitten him via using scissors to tear his shirt sleeve and fake blood -- he then hit Beethoven repeatedly to provoke him into lunging at him.

He then threatened to take legal action unless Beethoven was taken into his office to be put down, however he soon had his two henchmen take him to the testing area.

Varnick later gets into a confrontation with the Newtons, who find out that the bite was faked -- they call the cops but they show no interest in intervening -- they proceed to follow Varnick to his testing area. By the time they arrive he is already preparing to shoot Beethoven but is distracted when George (Beethoven's originally reluctant owner) smashes into the area -- Varnick proceeds to try and shoot him for interfering and is attacked by a Jack Russell Terrier -- causing him to misfire.

At this point Ted smashes into the area using the family car and during the chaos launches numerous syringes at Varnick, sedating him -- Beethoven and the other dogs are freed and proceed to chase away Varnick's henchmen who tried to escape to the junkyard only to find out that they were about to be  viciously maimed by a pack of Dobermans guarding the yard.

In the end, Dr. Varnick and his accomplices are arrested and  indicted for their crimes.