Dates with 10 "steaming hot Hopkins undergrads," and their canine wards from Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), will be auctioned off to the highest bidders Saturday night at a fund-raiser on the Baltimore campus.

"Hopkins' first ever Doggy Date Auction" is being put on by the Hopkins Pet and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), an organization formed last year to improve the quality of life of unwanted animals in Baltimore through volunteer work at local shelters.

An afternoon date with the participating students (who include Lauren Jones, left and Alvaro Donoso, right), and their canine escorts (on loan from BARCS) isn't all the winning bidders get. They'll also receive a gourmet picnic basket to share with their human-hound combo at a mutually agreed upon time and place.

The auction takes place Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Glass Pavilion on the Johns Hopkins University campus. Tickets are $4 at the door. Shelter dogs won't be at the auction, but guests are welcome to bring dogs

Hopkins student and PAWS founder Ashley Kennedy describes the event as "an evening of beautiful people, lovable puppies, free food and good laughs" (courtesy of performers from the Buttered Niblets). "PAWS is offering 10 steaming hot Hopkins undergrads, along with their canine sidekicks, as the merchandise for Hopkins’ first ever Doggy Date Auction."

Facebook members can learn more about the event, and see more photos of the humans and dogs up for bids, by going to Facebook.com, and searching "doggy date auction."

The duos to be auctioned fall into eight classes: toys, terriers, working, sporting, non-sporting, miscellaneous, hounds and herders. The person-pup duo that commands the highest price will also be awarded “Best in Show” for the event.

PAWS describes its mission as helping to raise funds for the care and medical treatment of homeless animals, and drawing public attention to animal neglect and abuse.

I'm guessing that -- like Pin-Ups for Pit Bulls -- they're going to accomplish at least that last part.

(Photos courtesy of Hopkins PAWS)