Members of Humane Society Yukon have elected a new board of directors this week, in response to a controversial decision to destroy a dog some had wanted to keep alive.

The controversy involved Hunter, a dog that was in the care of the society's Mae Bachur Animal Shelter in Whitehorse.

Hunter was put to sleep late last month, after some board directors said it was aggressive and too ill to be treated. The decision to euthanize Hunter overruled the wishes of staff, including at least two who offered to adopt the dog.

More than three dozen people came to the society's annual general meeting Wednesday, and some even put their names forward for board positions.

In the end, past president Gerry Steers was not re-elected as a director while Rachel Westfall, a director who resigned over the controversy, was elected back to the board.

"The folks who really pushed to have Hunter euthanized are no longer on the board," Westfall told CBC News on Thursday.

"There are several people on there who put their names forward because they were concerned about what had happened."

Steers was not available for comment.

Westfall said the board's decision to put Hunter down not only overruled the shelter staff's decision, but also violated the shelter's no-kill policy.

She said two shelter employees wanted to adopt Hunter, including one who had been bitten when the dog became overexcited during a play session.

Shelter administrator Christy Willett said the staff were upset over the decision to destroy Hunter, adding that many felt their voices had not been heard.

Willett said the staff did find some closure after the dog's death, when its ashes were distributed to "the people that cared about the dog."

Willett said she appreciates the work of the past board and is feeling positive about the new leadership.