LEWISTON – When Lewiston schools open this fall, there’ll be new signs warning that animals are not allowed on school property.

The reason: Too many dog owners have been bringing their pooch to school grounds to walk or run, mostly in the evenings.

Dogs do what dogs do. But authorities say many owners haven’t done what dog owners should do: Clean up.

Students walking or playing have stepped in the messes, school Superintendent Leon Levesque said on Monday.

“We want clean playing areas for our kids. The only way to get that is don’t bring them (dogs) there.”

Dog poop on school grounds is a health issue, Levesque said.

The problem has been mostly at elementary schools, and it has been constant, Levesque said. Elementary principals brought their concern to Levesque’s attention. Levesque recently presented the issue to the Lewiston School Committee, which voted on July 28 to have the signs put up.

The signs will say that school grounds are not the place to bring dogs and other domestic animals, Levesque said. Animals will be allowed on sidewalks where pedestrian traffic is allowed, but not on school property.

Levesque said he’s not looking to subject dog owners to fines, he just wants school grounds clean for students.

“It’s like smoking,” he said, which is also not allowed on public grounds. Habits need to change, said Levesque. “We want them to cooperate. If we don’t post, how can we change behavior?”

Auburn’s Park Avenue Elementary School Principal Vickie Gaylord said she’s not aware of a similar problem at her school.

The Park Avenue school has plenty of walking and green space used by the public, including dogs owners walking their dogs. But dog owners clean up, she said, just as people using the grounds have not left trash behind.

Recently Gaylord said she looked out the school window and saw someone walking their dog. The dog “was doing his job. But the owner had a baggy,” Gaylord said. “That’s what I’ve seen. People have been respectful, which is positive.”