Former Univ. of Georgia stars Knowshown Moreno and Tavarres King are firing back at PETA … telling TMZ Sports the animal rights org. should kick rocks for demanding their live bulldog mascot be removed from its role.

PETA initially took aim at the school after the National Championship Game earlier this year — requesting the university retire Uga for good … calling the dog’s position as team mascot cruel to the animal.

But, when we talked with Moreno and King about the situation earlier this month, they both said Uga is living better than some students do!

“I feel like those pets live the best lives!” said Moreno, who played at UGA from 2006 to 2008. “Uga live the life!”

“I don’t think folks know how good of a life Uga lives,” added King, a receiver for the Bulldogs from 2008 to 2012. “Uga lives a good one.”

FYI — Georgia has used a live mascot since the 1950s … starting with Uga I. The current mascot is Uga X.

Both Moreno and King said they’ve personally seen the dogs be treated like royalty, telling us the pups get fed regularly — and even have first-class seats on team planes.

King also said the mascot’s dog house has air conditioning!

“That dog’s loved, bro,” King told us. “Chill out, PETA!”

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