cps in texas  

I would think that the parents would have to be notified, but then again it is CPS. You might tell them that their home (not implying anything) should be dam near spotless. As for if it was a phoney call, because someone was mad at them, who knows. And CPS doesn't seem to take that into consideration, they will investigate every call that comes in. However, I would check into if they are allowed to talk to a child without the parents knowing about it.

I don't know how Texas works but in Wisconsin the Social Workers staff every call and decide if it is worthy of an investigation. If you call on a Friday before a holiday weekend you may not get any result as they don't want to ruin their plans. I have seen cases where people have been turned in for reprimanding children in a restaurant when they take food off of a strangers plate. Go Figure. I have had students self report because their parents grounded them and would not let them see a friend and DSS is right on it and other cases where you call in a neglect case because a 12 year old was left home with an infant to care for over the weekend and no action is taken. DSS and CPS seem to answer to themselves and do what they want. I have very little time for them.