Hundreds of donkeys bought because of the film Shrek's popularity are being seriously neglected, vets have warned.
Peter Jinman, a former president of the British Veterinary Association, has likened the donkey craze to previous fads for llamas and ostriches.
He says owners often do not know how to look after them properly - or even realise donkeys now require passports.
Animal charity the Donkey Sanctuary has stressed that the animals need a lot of attention and can be expensive to keep.
Both the original Shrek film and the sequel, charting the adventures of a green ogre and his donkey friend, have proved extremely popular with children.
Practising vet Mr Jinman says he has been receiving an increasing number of calls about donkeys over the past three years.
"I would have a certain amount of concern as to what is going on with the trade and how it's being regulated"
"It has certainly become apparent that there are a lot more donkeys appearing," he told BBC Radio 4's Farming Today.
He suggested this was due to people moving from the city to the country and buying houses with land attached.
He also said the "Shrek effect" could not be ignored.
Mr Jinman added that many of the animals are being imported when they are too young to be moved around.
"I would have a certain amount of concern as to what is going on with the trade and how it's being regulated," he said.
Tina Court, of the Devon-based Donkey Sanctuary, said the donkey "is quite a character" and makes a good pet.
But she warned potential owners need "a minimum of one acre grazing land, a farm or shelter, a good equine farrier, a vet, straw for bedding and a lot of time - because donkeys love attention".
For parents of Shrek-obsessed children who can't fulfil these requirements, there is an option to sponsor a donkey.
Claire Belton runs the New European Distressed Donkey Initiative (Neddi) in France and offers her animals for sponsorship.
She says: "It is slightly less tangible than keeping the animals as pets, but you can come and visit your donkey and pat it."
Both donkey groups and vets agree the biggest problem with keeping the animals is that they live for such a long time - upwards of 30 years.
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