[null and void]

From the excerpt it’s not clear if WCNC even knew if the child was a girl or boy.

English lacks a third person singular word, them has been pressed into duty. It may not be gender surrender on the part of WCNC.

[WXRGina]

English lacks a third person singular word...

The correct, generic singular was always "he" or "him," regardless of the sex of the subject. At least that's what it USED to be.

[FamiliarFace]

If the child’s gender wasn’t apparent, one of the ways to refer to the child would be use “ the child” instead of “they”.

*** “The third dog then bit the victim and dragged them down the driveway,”***

Using “the child” would work, but the media would prefer “them”.

[SamuraiScot]

English lacks a third person singular word, them has been pressed into duty.

The problem is that it sounds faggy. Because of the tranny precedent, it gives the impression that the writer is being coquettishly unspecific out of sheer love of perversity.

I'd fire the reporter. Before you hit "send," get the damn facts, or hit the bricks.

[RRismyhero]

But it doesn’t make “them” correct. “The child” or “the victim” would have been the proper way to go. This writer, I suspect, used “them” intentionally.

[Bigg Red]

It is improper grammar.