Trangia, good idea. Or a scaled up version, maybe with a stove constructed from a Fosters can. A friend of mine melts snow for herself and three dogs using some sort of coffee pot alcohol stove she rigged up. Here is what I use for 8 dogs and myself. It is a 5 gal. metal paint bucket from the dumpster with a stockpot that nests inside but the stockpot handles hold it up from the bottom of the paint can. the can has 4 or so large air holes around the bottom. An Origo marine alcohol stove sits in the bottom. Very fuel efficient but slow compared to most other Mushers stoves.

Here is what an origo marine stove looks like:

http://www.swego.com/mall/canister_stoves.asp

In a pinch, you can just build a fire in the bottom of the paint can with sticks.