select 't1', count(*) from t1
  union
  select 't2', count(*) from t2

##</code><code>##

my $t1_count = table_row_count( $dbh, 'table1' );
my $t2_count = table_row_count( $dbh, 'table2' );

sub table_row_count {
    my $db    = shift;
    my $table = shift;
    my $sth = $db->prepare_cached(
        "select count(*) from $table"
    );
    $sth->execute();
    return $sth->fetchrow_array;
}