think the Harry Reid pole would be much more appropriate to be pissed on by dogs, don't you?
don't take it off its hinges off, if it is an all in 1 unit unscrew the backing plate on the handle and the screws should behind that and from there it pretty much explains its self,just make sure u have 1 to replace it with before u take it off, it would b easier if u could replace it with a similar lock.