A local animal group is calling on the authorities to help rescue about a dozen cats they say have been living in a van for quite some time.

News 12 is told 13 cats have been living in a van parked in White Plains for two years.

Deborah Pangle, who leads the Cat Squad Rescue, told News 12 people have been reporting this since January of 2019.

Greenburgh and White Plains police say a homeless man owns the cats.

Pangle and her team say they're worried because sometimes the cats are left alone for hours in very hot temperatures.

They're also concerned about the cats' quality of life, saying the van isn't big enough for over a dozen cats.

Both the Greenburgh and White Plains police departments have gotten involved, as well as the SPCA who has been there a number of times to evaluate the cats.

The SPCA tells News 12 they can't take the cats away because each one is healthy. There are five fans in the van and the internal temperature of the car doesn't exceed legal limits.

However, Pangle says that doesn't make it right.

White Plains police say their patrol and a mental health outreach team will continue to check on the cats and their owner.