Here's why this event serves as the inciting incident:
* It sets the story in motion: Buck's life is completely disrupted, and he is thrust into an entirely new environment where he must adapt to survive.
* It introduces conflict: Buck's initial happiness and comfort are replaced by fear, hardship, and the struggle to maintain his identity in a brutal world.
* It sets up the central theme: The struggle between civilization and primal instincts is established as Buck faces the choice between his domesticated life and the call of the wild.
Buck's abduction marks the beginning of his journey of transformation and the exploration of his primal instincts. The events that follow are a direct consequence of this initial turning point in his life.