Tigers as pets in America

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the US has more tigers kept in captivity as pets than there are in the wild, almost impossible to count the real numbers since there are no requirements to register them. That it represents a problem is clear I think. So many of these animals kept in roadside zoos for human entertainment are kept in awful conditions and not fed properly leading to health problems because of inadequate exercise and nutrition. America seems to have some general attitude of having the right to do what they want but owning big, essentially wild animals is dangerous self gratification that has very serious implications to the welfare of these beautiful creatures that should only live in the wild.