Dave Pelzer (born 1961) is a child rights advocate from California. As a child he was severely abused by his mother for a period of twelve years, in what is considered one of the three worst cases of child abuse in that state's history. When he was twelve, his teachers finally notified the police: he was removed from his home and sent to live in a series of foster homes, where he gradually overcame the trauma of his earlier years.

Pelzer wrote three books about his experiences:

  • A Child Called It (1995)
  • The Lost Boy (1997)
  • A Man Named Dave (1999)